Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri has shared his views on Pakistan’s probabilities on the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
The nation is scheduled to host an Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) occasion for the primary time for the reason that ODI World Cup 1996.
Pakistan are positioned in Group A of the Champions Trophy 2025 alongside India, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
The facet will play within the match opener in opposition to New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
They’ll then depart for Dubai to face India within the highly-anticipated PAK vs IND match on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium on February 23.
Pakistan will play their third and ultimate group match in Rawalpindi in opposition to Bangladesh on February 27.
Forward of the match, former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri has maintained that the hosts posed a major menace to different groups given their efficiency within the ODIs within the final eight months.
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“There’s all the time stress if you play at house within the sub-continent – whether or not it’s India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Pakistan – the expectations are huge. However I believe Pakistan are the form of facet that, with the publicity they’ve had within the final six to eight months in white-ball cricket, have put up some actually robust performances, particularly in South Africa,” he stated.
Whereas mentioning the absence of opening batter Saim Ayub, the previous Indian cricketer stated that Pakistan had been nonetheless a harmful facet in house situations.
“They’ve missed Ayub on the high, and he’s a vital participant. However Pakistan have sufficient depth to be harmful, particularly in house situations. I’d say they need to qualify for the semi-finals and from there, it’s anybody’s sport,” Ravi Shastri stated.
In accordance with the previous Indian cricketer, the Champions Trophy 2025 hosts would change into extra harmful in the event that they handle to make it by way of to the knockout phases.
“Pakistan are nonetheless very, very harmful, and in the event that they qualify, they’ll be doubly extra harmful,” he stated.