Pakistan’s hopes of defending their ICC Champions Trophy title hinge on a crucial showdown against arch-rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.
The team faces a do-or-die situation after opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out due to an abdominal muscle injury, with Imam-ul-Haq stepping in as his replacement.
Pakistan’s campaign in the eight-team tournament began on a disappointing note, suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their Group A opener. With their title defense now at risk, the team must secure victory against India to stay in contention.
Pakistan vs India in ICC Champions Trophy
The last ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 saw India and Pakistan face off twice, including a thrilling final where Pakistan emerged victorious at The Oval. Over the years, the two teams have met five times in the tournament’s history, with Pakistan holding a slight edge with three wins to India’s two.
India vs Pakistan – ODI Head-to-Head
The rivalry dates back to 1978 when the two sides first clashed in One Day International (ODI) cricket. Since then, they have faced each other in 135 ODIs, with Pakistan leading the head-to-head record at 73-57, while five matches ended without a result.
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India vs Pakistan in Dubai
Pakistan has historically dominated India in ODI encounters in the UAE. Out of 28 meetings in the region, Pakistan has claimed victory 19 times, while India has won on nine occasions.
Pakistan Wins: 19
India Wins: 9
With history on their side in Dubai, Pakistan will be looking to reignite their campaign and keep their title defense alive in this high-stakes encounter.
