Gautam Bhattatacharyya
Cricket writer, Dubai
AFP
A display panel in Lahore presents India and the Pakistani captains before the Champions Trophy
The last time India and Pakistan clashed during a large ICC 50 competition on 2023, during the highly anticipated match of the World Cup League in Ahmedabad.
As a competition, it turned out to be a bit of an anti -climax – India, in a dominant form, has comfortably chased a lower Pakistani target, guaranteeing a resounding victory.
And as Pakistani fans did not obtain visas for traveling to India, apart from the cricket team, the only notable presence in the country was in the media center.
The confrontation of the Sunday ICC Champions Trophy between the Rivals of the Arc at the Dubai International Stadium promises a very different atmosphere.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said that tickets sold in a few minutes – and with the United Arab Emirates welcoming more than 3.7 million Indians and nearly 1.7 million Pakistanis, a dynamic crowd and Well represented of the two nations is almost guaranteed.
But can a sea of green flags in the stands inspire the men of Pakistan Mohammad Rizwan to challenge the chances of this essential conflict against India by Rohit Sharma?
Pakistan can comfort itself in its solid record in-head to water-19 victories in 28 ODI, plus a unique T20I victory during the 2021 World Cup in Dubai.
Getty images
Pakistan won the Champions Trophy final against India at the oval by 180 points in 2017
Most Pakistan victories against India occurred in Sharjah during their dominant race in the 1980s and 90s, winning 18 of the 24 games there.
In Dubai, India beat them twice during the 2018 Asian Cup, while the two teams won a match each in an Abu Dhabi 2006 series.
Since the glory days of Pakistan in Sharjah, the tide has moved – apart from the occasional victory of the T20i, India has largely dominated in the new millennium.
The veteran cricket writer Ayaz Memon believes that there is no reason to look at the Indian-Pakistani clashes with water through the prism of the past.
“There is no doubt that Pakistan has benefited from enormous support for the crowd in Sharjah days, the local Pathan population making up the figures. However, the team then boasted of people like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail and the two WS (Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis), “said Memon.
“Compare this to the state of the current team, which presents exceptional results from time to time but has no form of consistency.”
AFP
Pakistan fell to a defeat of 60 points at the opening of the championship against New Zealand
The sumptuous and constantly expanding city -state of the Arab Emirates of Dubai offers little sign of a major cricket event – there are no welcome banners at the airport.
Instead, the hobby of Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and the company dominate, while the city is in full swing for the annual tennis championships Dubai Free.
Head south and the “Ring of Fire” at the Dubai International Stadium emerges from the highway, signaling the presence of the cricket.
Impending images of the eight captains border the arena, but for the next two days, all the eyes will be on the teams of Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Rizwan while fans around the world await their fate.
It is not a secret to responding to broadcasters and marketing requests, the ICC constantly places India and Pakistan in the same group for major tournaments. This guarantees at least a confrontation in the league with high issues, with the potential of a successful revenge match in the KO.
At a time when cricket faced an overexposure and its international structure is threatened by the rise of the T20 franchise leagues, the Indian-Pakistani rivalry remains its greatest drawing of the box office.
AFP
Thursday, the chic century of Shubman Gill propelled a comfortable victory over Bangladesh Thursday
A big plus on the tight and higher team format of the ICC Champions trophy is that a little discharge can cost even heavy goods vehicles.
“The 50 -year -old World Cup gives you a chance to go back even if you fall into the strange game because there are 10 games in the melee. This is very different here where your three group games are important to go to the semi-finals ”, said Captain of India Sharma on the eve of their opening match against Bangladesh.
India erased its first obstacle with a six -gate victory against Bangladesh Thursday, fueled by the chic century of Shubman Gill (cement of its status as future captain Odi), the transport of Mohammed Five Wicket and a quick camper of the Sharma skipper , which crossed the brand of 11,000 points in the format.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah – expected as it recovers from a sustained rear spasm during the final test in Australia – remains a subject of discussion. However, on this counter, the spotlights should move to the spinners.
Pakistan’s confrontation at the tournament was a roller coaster – both unpredictable and vulnerable. Their last three ODI perfectly paint the image.
Getty images
Mohammed Shami’s five -seekers helped India win the match against Bangladesh
Ten days ago, Ricewan and Salman Ali Agha, 260 points, propelled Pakistan for a record prosecution of 353 points against South Africa in Karachi, obtaining a place in the trial final.
But two days later, they won ordinary air while New Zealand won a five-gate victory, refusing them a title of confidence by stimulating before the champions trophy.
Then Wednesday, after their quisors made a breakdown early, they let the Kiwis take down, ending up crashing at a defeat of 60 points in their first tournament match.
This put their backs against the wall before the big match – and what annoyed former Great Pakistani people is the declaration of Captain Rizwan that they will take the match of India as “just another match”.
History shows that Pakistan prosperous in such situations, echoing the legendary “Tigers” in the cage of the “Cagers” of Imran Khan of their triumphant campaign of the 1992 World Cup.
Yes, the chances are favorable to India, but Pakistan can never be struck off on the water. After all, it’s a new day, a new battle, and everything can happen in a big game.
