"We are going to surprise India" - Aaqib Javed ahead of IND vs PAK Champions Trophy match

India are set to take on Pakistan in a high-stakes Group A match of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23. Ahead of the clash between archrivals in the tournament, Pakistan interim head coach Aaqib Javed issued a strong warning to Team India.

Pakistan started their ICC tournament campaign with a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in Karachi. A loss to India on Sunday would severely dent their chances of making it to the semifinals. To make matters worse, experienced batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Fakhar Zaman Replaced by Imam-ul-Haq Ahead of High-Octane Clash

Fakhar Zaman sustained an injury while fielding against New Zealand. The left-handed batter was forced to withdraw from the tournament. Fakhar scored 24 runs off 41 balls before being dismissed by Michael Bracewell. The selection committee added left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq to the squad.

Imam last played an ODI against South Africa on October 27, 2023, in Chennai. The left-handed batter has scored 3,138 runs in 72 ODI matches at an impressive average of 48.27, with nine centuries and 20 fifties. With Fakhar set to miss out, Babar Azam could open with Imam at the top of the batting order.

We Are Going to Surprise India - Aaqib Javed

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the upcoming match against India, Aaqib Javed confidently declared that his team plans to surprise their rivals and record their first win of the ongoing tournament.

“We are going to surprise India tomorrow,” Javed said.

India started their campaign with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh. They are likely to stick with the same playing XI against Pakistan. However, Virat Kohli’s form remains a concern, as he has struggled against spin. The Rohit Sharma-led team will hope he delivers, given his strong track record against Pakistan.

For Pakistan, this is a must-win match to keep their semi-final hopes alive, while a victory for India would secure their spot in the knockout stage. India need to improve their wicket-taking in the middle overs, while the Pakistan team faces a setback with the absence of genuine spin bowlers except Abrar Ahmed.

Taking Pressure Is the Job of the Players - Aaqib Javed

Aaqib Javed acknowledged that Fakhar Zaman’s injury is a setback for the defending champions but emphasized that the team cannot rely on a single player. Javed also spoke about the intense hype surrounding the India-Pakistan matches, stating that handling pressure is part of a player’s responsibility.

"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," Aaqib Javed said.

"Taking pressure is the job of the players. If you remove pressure, then what's left in a Pakistan-India game? A player needs such pressure and passion to showcase his performances."

Also read: Virat Kohli injured ahead of Pakistan clash? Batter spotted with ice pack during practice