Shamik Chakrabarty in Dubai
This is an India-Pakistan game with a difference. The backdrop provides more spice. Pakistan hosting an ICC event and India refusing to travel across the border was on the cards. Given the security situation on the other side of Wagah, it was always unlikely that the Indian government would allow the team to travel. Using England and Australia as reference points, that they are playing in Pakistan, is as naive as it is dud. The geopolitical factors in India-Pakistan relations are completely different.
Back in July last year, RevSportz broke the story that the 2025 Champions Trophy would likely be played in a hybrid model. In November, the BCCI wrote to the ICC that it hasn’t got the Indian government’s go-ahead to send the team to Pakistan and asked the world body to schedule India’s matches in Dubai. And once the request was put out, the Champions Trophy was always going to be played in a hybrid model, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) grandstanding notwithstanding.
So, here we are, in Dubai, where Pakistan have travelled to play their group league game against India. Does the backdrop make this a grudge match for Mohammad Rizwan & Co? More than that, this is a matter of survival for Pakistan. If they lose to India on Sunday, their tournament will effectively be over.
To make matters worse, Pakistan have lost their impact batsman, Fakhar Zaman. In a batting group full of stat-padders, Fakhar was like a breath of fresh air, who always played with intent. Head coach Aaqib Javed admitted at the pre-match conference that losing the opener due to an injury has been a setback. At the same time, he urged other players to rise to the challenge. According to Aaqib, the India-Pakistan game is always different and the defeat against New Zealand will not have any carry-over effect. “This is a game where you can become a hero,” said Aaqib.
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The Pakistani fans, however, are a bit downbeat. Reluctantly, they are refusing to give their side a chance. On a TV show in Pakistan, former middle-order batter Basit Ali was asked to predict the winners in Sunday’s game. “90-10 in favour of India” was his reply.
Make no mistake, Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf can make any batting line-up suffer, when they are on song. But their batting approach is seemingly still stuck in the 1990s. Also, the pitch in the Dubai International Stadium is likely to be a slow turner, and save Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan don’t have a wicket-taking spinner to speak of. India’s spin-punch is far superior on paper.
India aren’t taking Pakistan lightly. Far from it. The tone was set by Virat Kohli, who turned up for practice an hour before the team arrived at the ICC Academy on Saturday. During the practice session, a ball hit Kohli’s leg and icepack was applied. It wasn’t serious and the former captain has no injury concerns. Only Rishabh Pant, who missed the training session on the match eve, is down with a viral fever.
Shubman Gill, India’s vice-captain came at the pre-match presser and put things in perspective. “Firstly, I think it is a big match, but I think the biggest match would obviously be the final that the team plays,” he said. “And definitely, we have been playing some good ODI cricket. Pakistan, unfortunately, I think have lost some of the matches that they have played recently. But by no means I think we are going to take them as a lesser side. I think they have got a good side and it is important for us to bring our A game tomorrow.”
Gill is revelling in his sublime ODI form and enjoying his leadership role on and off the field. He appears to be India’s biggest batting bet. But this is a game where you expect Kohli to roll back the years.
Also Read: Ahead of Pakistan Game, Kohli Hits Nets Early, Stuns Everyone
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