Pakistan’s chances of winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are slim, and they will have to fight India in Dubai on Sunday. After losing to New Zealand in the first round, they would be eliminated from the competition in four days if they suffered a second straight loss.
Journalist Vimal Kumar said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hired former cricket player Mudassar Nazar as a special coach in an attempt to improve their prospects and adjust to UAE conditions. During Pakistan’s Friday night training session, the 68-year-old, who is familiar with Middle Eastern fields, was observed actively working with the players.
Why was Mudassar Nazar brought in by PCB?
Mudassar Nazar, a former opener for Pakistan, is regarded as a cricket expert in the United Arab Emirates. In addition to serving as the Director of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy, he has extensive coaching expertise from positions with Pakistan, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, he was a national selector for the Emirates Cricket Board and worked with the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai. The PCB believed he was the perfect manager to lead the team prior to their crucial match against Rohit Sharma’s India because of his in-depth understanding of UAE playing conditions.
Pakistan’s Training Challenges
Even with Nazar present, Pakistan’s training session exposed concerning flaws. Stars like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam sent the ball into the stands as players concentrated on aggressive batting. Many, however, had trouble with timing, which resulted in a lot of mishits that flew aloft rather than crossing the border.
Another big worry was fielding, as players were missing easy catches, revealing a serious weakness before their crucial match. Pakistan’s weakness in this area might be expensive, particularly when playing an Indian squad that is playing well and trying to qualify for the semifinals.
Pakistan hosts elsewhere, while India performs in Dubai
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is officially hosted by Pakistan, although all of India’s group stage matches are taking place in Dubai. Because of security concerns, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to send their squad to Pakistan, which led to this arrangement.
With India and New Zealand dominating Group A, Rohit Sharma’s squad would eliminate Pakistan and go to the semifinals with a win on Sunday. Pakistan’s future now depends on their ability to defeat India in this crucial match as tensions grow.
