The highly anticipated clash will take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23.
India vs Pakistan: The Most Awaited Match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 latest news: In the 5th match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan, which suffered a defeat against New Zealand in the opening game, will face its long-standing cricket rival, India. Meanwhile, India won its first match of the tournament against Bangladesh by six wickets.
The highly anticipated clash will take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23. Due to political tensions between the two nations, India chose to play its matches in Dubai instead of the host country, Pakistan.
Current Standings & Pakistan's Must-Win Situation:
As of now, New Zealand tops Group A, followed by India. The top two teams from each of the two groups will advance to the semi-finals.
Pakistan is under immense pressure, as it is on the verge of being knocked out of the tournament. In the opening match, Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 60 runs. After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bowl first, allowing New Zealand to set a target of 321 runs. However, Pakistan was bowled out for 260 runs.
This makes the upcoming match a do-or-die situation for Pakistan. To make matters worse, Pakistan's premier batsman Fakhar Zaman suffered a muscle injury during the match against New Zealand and has been ruled out of the tournament.
Atul Wassan's Take on the India-Pakistan Rivalry
According to an article published in India Today, former Indian fast bowler Atul Wassan expressed his desire for Pakistan to beat India to add excitement to the tournament.
"I want Pakistan to win because it will make the rest of the tournament more exciting. If Pakistan plays well and wins, there will be a real contest," Wassan told ANI news agency.
He further stated, "Until Pakistan improves its cricket, there’s no excitement in watching India vs Pakistan games. When I played in the '90s, Pakistan had so many great players—Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Saeed Anwar. We used to lose to them quite often."
Who Has the Upper Hand?
India appears to have the upper hand in this match, given its victory in the opening game, while Pakistan suffered a defeat. Additionally, the absence of Fakhar Zaman is a major setback for Pakistan.
The upcoming India vs Pakistan clash is set to be one of the most thrilling encounters of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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