The absence of aggressive intent displayed by Pakistan's senior batsmen, including captain Mohammad Rizwan and prominent player Babar Azam, is likely to hinder their performance in the crucial Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match against their long-standing rivals India at the Dubai International Stadium, according to former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan.

In their pursuit of 321 runs against New Zealand, Pakistan managed only 22 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first ten overs, marking the lowest powerplay score in Champions Trophy history. They struggled to gain momentum during the chase, and despite spirited contributions from Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha, they ultimately fell short by 60 runs.

Conversely, India commenced their campaign with a victory, defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in Dubai.

This scenario has rendered the upcoming match against India a must-win for Pakistan if they wish to remain in contention for the tournament.

Pathan emphasized that the lack of intent among Pakistan's senior players poses a significant challenge as they prepare for the encounter with India.

“Pakistan has numerous issues within the team,” Pathan remarked to PTI Videos on Friday. 

“Regarding some of the senior players, they do not exhibit the aggressive style of modern white-ball cricket. The question is whether they can adapt, which is quite challenging.

“However, beyond the strengths and weaknesses, the focus is on the India-Pakistan rivalry. The team that manages the occasion better is likely to emerge victorious,” he added.

Pathan further noted that the Indian team is in a stronger position to cope with high-pressure situations.

“Recent performances have shown that the Indian team is adept at navigating challenging circumstances and significant occasions. In terms of talent, we are considerably ahead, particularly in one-day formats,” he stated.

Pathan on Shami

Pathan remarked that Mohammed Shami will gain significant confidence from his five-wicket performance against Bangladesh, which enabled him to become the fastest Indian bowler to achieve 200 ODI wickets.

“It was encouraging to witness Mohammed Shami secure a five-wicket haul. This achievement will bolster his confidence, particularly after returning from injury, which can be quite challenging for fast bowlers. Nevertheless, he performed admirably,” Pathan stated.

“Our team possesses strong all-round capabilities. Axar Patel is taking wickets, and we have numerous options available. I am optimistic that we will maintain this momentum.”

“Shubman Gill is in exceptional form, and as long as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to score runs consistently, this team will be formidable,” he concluded.

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