Dubai, February 23, 2025 – In a high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy match at the Dubai International Stadium, Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss against India.
Pakistan’s Slow but Steady Start
At the end of the 26th over, Pakistan stands at 107 for 2 wickets, with captain Mohammad Rizwan (24 runs) and Saud Shakeel (37 runs) cautiously building a partnership. The team’s run rate remains below four runs per over as they aim to stabilize their innings against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
Early Setbacks for Pakistan
Pakistan’s opening batsmen struggled to find momentum, with Imam-ul-Haq (10 runs) run out due to a brilliant direct hit by Axar Patel. Star batsman Babar Azam (23 runs) was dismissed in the 9th over after edging a delivery from Hardik Pandya to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.
India’s Bowling Efforts
India’s bowlers have kept a tight grip on the match, limiting Pakistan’s scoring opportunities. Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya have been economical, while Shami had to briefly leave the field for treatment due to a shin issue but returned to bowl after the 11th over.
Match Context and Team Strategies
Pakistan, looking to break India’s dominance in ICC events, made one change to their lineup, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq for Fakhar Zaman, who was ruled out due to injury. India, coming off a commanding win against Bangladesh, remains unchanged.
With the pitch expected to slow down as the match progresses, spinners are likely to play a crucial role in the second innings. The outcome of this clash could shape the tournament’s knockout stage scenarios, with India aiming to maintain their winning streak against their arch-rivals in ICC tournaments.
