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Aaqib Javed reckons that Pakistan’s pace-trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf will deliver a special performance against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group-stage clash.
Pakistan’s fast-bowling trio are expected to deliver a special performance against India. (Image: ICC)
Pakistan’s Head Coach, Aaqib Javed has backed his fast-bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah to produce ‘something very special’ in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025’s marquee matchup against India.
The side led by Mohammad Rizwan came into this game with a must-win scenario for their survival in the tournament. In their opening game, the Men in Green suffered a crushing defeat by 60 runs to New Zealand which meant that their hopes of going into the knockout stages now sit on their result against arch-rivals India.
Pakistan have also been dealt a major blow with their star opening batter, Fakhar Zaman being ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. He had played an iconic knock against India which gave them the Champions Trophy title in 2017. But Javed hopes that the team can rally together to produce a special performance to re-ignite their campaign.
“Look, there is no doubt Fakhar is a matchwinner. Every team actually misses their match-winners. But you can’t depend on only one player. We’ll still play as a good, strong team, try to win and try to play good, positive cricket,” Javed told media here on Saturday.
He also hit back against criticisms regarding the lack of spin options in the current squad. The coach reckons that every side plays to their strengths which according to him is their fast-bowling trio.
“I’ve heard (that) a lot discussions (are) going on (that) other teams have too many spinners and we have lesser spinning options. The teams play their game on their own strengths,” he said.
“We have like three, I would say, one of the best pace bowling options in today’s game with Shaheen, Naseem and Haris. It reminds me of that 1990s troika (including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis),” he added.
Despite making the bold comparison to their previous generation’s counterparts, Javed pointed out that the current trio have a lot to do to reach that level and remain confident in their abilities to do so.
“I think reaching that level, they still have time, but they have all the ability to repeat those sorts of performances. So, (we are) pretty much confident and when you play against India, it’s a special feeling and they will bring something very special tomorrow,” he said.
Pakistan will hope that Afridi, Rauf and Shah can find their best form in hopes of keeping themselves in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament. A defeat would mean an embarrassing situation for the designated tournament hosts who would have to bank on improbable scenarios to get them over the line.
- Location :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
