Former Pakistani captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who secured the ICC Champions trophy for his country in the 2017 edition, remembered how the men in Green regreged themselves with the help of seniors after a shock start of their campaign eight years ago and the message that became Communicated to the group for the controversial final against arch -rivals India. Pakistan delivered India one of the biggest cricket shocks when she defeated the men in blue in the title collision in the oval in 2017 with a pounding margin of 180 runs while defending 339 points. This was the third most important title of Pakistan in Witte Ball Cricket, after the 50-over World Cup triumph in 1992 and the T20 World Cup victory in 2009.
Unlike in the ICC Cricket World Cup or the T20 World Cup for men, where India has a considerable advantage over Pakistan, the men in Green have a 3-2 advantage against the last in the Champions trophy.
Their campaign from 2017, however, came a shocking start when they lost a strong India side with 124 runs. Rohit Sharma (91), Shikhar Dhawan (68) and Virat Kohli (81) played with the willow before the bowling attack ended the job.
Sarfaraz remembered how the party regrouped itself under the guidance of senior players such as Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, something he thinks the current Pakistani side is also needed.
“Afterwards (after the defeat against India in the group stage) we had a great team meeting, and some of our senior boys – Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez – all said their piece. You need that kind of characters around you. We have changed our changes Mindset from that day.
Pakistan turned after the loss of India, and defeated South Africa, Sri Lanka and England on their way to the final.
While the addition of Fakhar Zaman, who made his debut in the group phase against South Africa, added firmness and firepower to the top, Junaid Khan and Rumman Raees Pakistan gave control and wickets with the new ball as they are in the semi-final against England, that Pakistan won with eight wickets.
“We played England in the semi -final and our bowlers were just fantastic,” said Sarfaraz. “Then it was India in the final. I was only convinced that our level was very high and my message to the players prior to the final was to relax.”
Pakistan had a dream day against their adjacent rivals in the final, in which Fakhar Zaman scored a brilliant century to totally guide them to a commander, before Mohammad Amir went through the Indian top order and gave their historical victory.
“We knew that we had defeated some of the best teams, so India was nothing we had not seen,” Sarfaraz discussed the mentality of the team prior to the competition.
“I told the boys to relax, forget the result and just give 100 percent.”
“The rest is history. When the last wicket dropped and we won, it is impossible to describe that feeling in words. When I took the last catch, I was at the Geul. And I just ran. I saw Shoaib Malik and Ran In his arms I jumped into him and hugged him.
Pakistan starts their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against New Zealand on 19 February in Karachi and Face-Off against India on February 23 in Dubai.
The eight teams are divided into two groups for the opening phase of the tournament. Each team plays three group stage matches, with the top two of each group that goes to the semi-final.
Group A contains Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and New Zealand, while group B Afghanistan, England, Australia and South Africa comprises.
Pakistan Squad for Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (C), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Aghain, Abrar, Hammeem, Hammeem, Hammemem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan matches for Champions Trophy: against New Zealand (19 February in Karachi), India (February 23 in Dubai and Bangladesh (27 February in Rawalpindi).
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