IND vs PAK, Champions Trophy 2025 LIVE: Abrar Ahmed removes ...

India is playing Pakistan at the Dubai International stadium for the crucial Group stage encounter on February 23, 2025.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bat first. Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq started on a decent note. But the dismissal of the openers in quick succession put Pakistan on the backfoot. But Rizwan and Saud Shakeel played some brilliant cricket to add century partnership. 

Once again with the dismissal of Rizwan and Saud in quick succession, Pakistan slowly got to a decent score with some good hitting from Khushdil Shah towards the end of the innings. Pakistan was all out for 241 inside 50 overs.

Also Read | Ganguly bats for India to win it all in the Champions Trophy

Pakistan, the host, has had to make a short hop to the Arabian peninsula after India’s refusal to play in the former’s home soil. This tie will kickstart a new arrangement in which the two teams have decided to play each other only in neutral territory if either hosts a multi-national event until 2027.

Also Read | Aaqib Javed enlists Mudassar Nazar’s expertise for clash against India

As is often the case in Indo-Pak encounters, this latest instalment is set to be a battle between India’s batting might and Pakistan’s pace attack. Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten ton, and skipper Rohit Sharma laid down the marker against Bangladesh and will look to stick to their aggressive approach. The team will also hope that Virat Kohli can get back amongst runs.

Virat Kohli on Sunday created history as he became the quickest batter to score 14,000 runs in One-Day Internationals during the Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan. 

Kohli is now only the third batter in ODI cricket to have scored 14,000 runs, after the legendary Indian Sachin Tendulkar (18,246 runs) and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs). 

Kohli is the quickest-ever to the milestone, having completed his 14,000 ODI runs in 287 innings. Before him, Tendulkar had taken 350 innings to reach the feat while Sangakkara took 378 outings. 

The India No. 3 needed only 15 runs on Sunday to reach the milestone, which he did with a four through covers off Haris Rauf in the 13th over of the run chase. -- PTI

Pakistan: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (capt,wk), Salman Agha, Tayyan Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami

Master batsman Virat Kohli scored a brilliant half-century. Kohli and Shreyas Iyer are marching ahead by punishing Pakistani bowlers and put India on course of a win and a chance to enter the Champions Trophy semifinal.

Apart from becoming the quickest batter to score 14000 ODI runs, Virat Kohli scored his 74th ODI half-century during the iCC Champions Trophy match against Pakistan. India are 137 for 2.

Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed removed the dangerous looking Shubman Gill right after the drinks break. India lost their second wicket with 100 on the board.

Opener Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli continued to score at will against Pakistani bowlers and scored at will. India are 99 for 1 in 17 overs. Rohit Sharma was out for 20. India still needs 143 in 33 overs.

Smashing the boundary with a four, Virat Kohli reaches a milestone of getting 14,000 runs in ODI cricket -- becoming the fastest one to do so. 

He ends the 13th over with another boundary, India at 84 for 1.

Shubman Gill is holding down the Indian fort at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the team racking up 67 runs at the end of 11 overs. 

Virat Kohli at the other end of the crease getting 10 runs in 14 balls.

Despite losing Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill began to start playing shots and smashed three boundaries off Shaheen Shah Afridi. India 46 for 1 in 7 overs.

Chasing a target of 242, India lost Rohit Sharma with the score at 31. Rohit Sharma scored 20. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a brilliant yorker to remove the dangerous looking Indian captain.

Chasing a target of 242, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill started the innings on a positive note scoring 20 runs in 3 overs with Rohit Sharma smashing a six in the second over.

Having restricted Pakistan for 241 in a crucial encounter of the ICC Champions Trophy, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill are now in the middle to begin their chase. It’s indeed a high octane encounter at the Dubai International stadium.

Harshit Rana strikes in the last over to remove Khushdil Shah and Pakistan was dismissed for 241 inside 50 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan moved to 227 for 8 at the end of 48th over. Khushdil Shah (31) and Haris Rauf (1) were at the crease

In the 47th over, Kuldeep Yadav strikes once again to remove Naseem Shah. The catch was brilliantly taken by Virat Kohli who has taken his 157th catch, most by an Indian in ODIs informs Ravi Shastri on air.

Pakistan reached 212 for 7 in 45 overs. With five more overs to go, can India bowl Pakistan out?

In the 43rd over, Kuldeep Yadav struck twice to remove Shaheen Afridi with the first ball. Kuldeep now on a hat-trick. Naseem Shah escapes the hat-trick.

With 7 more wickets to go, Kuldeep Yadav struck a crucial blow by removing Salman Agha with a catch from best-ever fielder Ravindra Jadeja.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan reached 200 runs in the 43rd over. This was a fine effort from the Indian bowling. With 7 more overs to go, this match is nicely balanced.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan moved to 183 for 5 in 40 overs. With 10 overs, Pakistan will be aiming to score another 70 odd runs to put India under pressure

Ravindra Jadeja back into the attack removed Tayyab Tahir for 4 and Pakistan are in a spot of bother at 165 for 5 with still 13 more overs to go.

Pakistan are in a spot of bother as Hardik Pandya dismissed the well-settled Saud Shakeel for 62 and Pakistan were 159 for 4 in the 35th over.

The change in bowling worked for India. Axar Patel immediately removed Pakistan captain Mohammed Rizwan with the Pakistani score on 151. It is indeed a big breakthrough for India and Axar Patel.

Harshit Rana missed a tough chance of Mohammad Rizwan in the 33rd over with the Pakistani captain on 46. That brings the 100-run partnership between Rizwan and Saud

Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed batted for the resumption of bilateral series between his side and India. The 37-year-old led his outfit to the 2017 Champions Trophy crown, beating India comprehensively in the summit clash. 

“Bilateral series should happen between the two countries. In 2005, there was a series. People talk about the rivalry, but off the field, I have not seen a better friendship between players of two countries,” said Sarfaraz, speaking to . 

“I will tell you a general view of the Pakistani people: they want to see the Indian team in Pakistan. Our people want to see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. They love them a lot. You saw how packed it was for England and Australia (on Saturday). Both teams got a lot of support. In this tournament, it did not happen, but I hope in future, India will come to Pakistan.” -- Dipak Ragav

Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel completed his fourth half-century in the ODIs. Coming into bat at a critical moment, Saud started cautiously and completed his half-century in 63 balls. 

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah received his ICC honours, including the Men’s Cricketer of the Year and Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year awards, before the start of the Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan here. 

Bumrah is not playing in the Champions Trophy as he has been sidelined with a back issue. 

The 31-year-old was present here to collect the awards, which also includes a place in the Men’s Test and T20I Teams for 2024. 

The ICC posted photographs of Bumrah with each of his four awards — including two caps — and wrote on X, “Jasprit Bumrah receives his #ICCAwards and Team Of The Year caps for a stellar 2024.” Bumrah had also met his India teammates on Sunday during their warm-up drills before the match against Pakistan. -- PTI

Indian superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be allowed to continue playing and decide their future in international cricket, believes former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed. 

Questions loomed over the future of India’s captain Rohit and senior batter Kohli after consecutive Test series loss to New Zealand and Australia, where both struggled to get going. 

“People should not even talk about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their performances have been outstanding for India,” Ahmed told reporters here on Sunday. 

“Virat Kohli has won those matches for India, and I have seen it with my own eyes, you can’t imagine, the kind of performances he has produced for India. 

“The same goes for Rohit Sharma. The way he is leading the team. He led the team outstandingly in the 2023 (ODI) World Cup and won the T20 World Cup.” Ahmed said Virat and Rohit will say their goodbyes to cricket when they think is the right time but until then, India should make their teams “around them”. 

“Let them play and let them decide what they want to do. You should make your team around them. The way they bid adieu to T20Is, they will do it for other formats when they will feel it is time. You should not make a team be removing them, you should make teams by including them,” he said. -- PTI

At the end of 29 overs, Pakistan moved to 126 for 2 with Rizwan on 37 and Saud on 43 were at the crease.

Backed with some brilliant and tight bowling from its bowlers, India put pressure on the Pakistani batsmen. On the other hand, Pakistan, after losing two quick wickets, started to open out after the 25th over mark with Rizwan and Saud begin to play shots. After a bit of a lull, Saud and Rizwan are taking on the spinners. 4 boundaries in the last 15 balls or so.

After winning the toss and losing two quick wicket of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan moved to 99 for 2 in 25 overs.

Indian bowlers bowled brilliantly to make Pakistan searching for runs and at the end of 20 overs, there were about 80 dot balls.

After losing two quick wicket, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel played the ball to the merit and pushed their team score to 77 for 2 in 19 overs.

Hardik Pandya is bowling really well to tighten the situation for Pakistan. He bowled a brilliant 17th over for India and Paksitan were 72 for 2

Pakistan moved to 61 for 2 in 14 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat. Pakistan lost both the openers and drinks was taken

After winning the toss and starting off well, Pakistan lost both the openers and were at 58 for 2 at the end of 12 overs.

Axar Patel steps into the act by running out Imam-ul-Haq with a brilliant throw from mid-on. India steps on the pedal now by removing both the openers in the space of just 4 deliveries. Another good news for India is Mohammed Shami is back on the field. At the end of 10 overs Pakistan were 52 for 2

Hardik Pandya removed dangerous looking Babar Azam and was taken well by K.L. Rahul behind the wicket. Pakistan were 41 for 1

After winning the toss and after seeing off some good bowling, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq began to open up their arms and at the end of 8 overs they were 37 for no loss.

Hardik into the attack. Shami is getting treatment. He completes the over but is off the field . A worry for India already.

After winning the toss, Pakistan openers take their team to 26 for no loss at the end of 6 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq made a sedate start. In the fourth over, Babar Azam scored the team’s first boundary. Azam followed it up with another brilliant boundary off the bowling of Harshit Rana. Pakistan were 22 for no loss at the end of four over.

Mohammed Shami began the bowling attack for India and though bowled five wides, he gave away only 6 runs in the first over.

All set for a crucial and important encounter for India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam are in the middle. Fresh from his five-wicket haul, Mohammed Shami will begin the proceedings for India.

Pakistan brought Imam-ul-Haq in place of Fakhar and India will be playing with the same XI that won against Bangladesh. This will be Imam’s first ODI since the 2023 ODI WC.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and have decided to bat first in the crucial Champions Trophy match against India in Dubai.

It is scorching here in Dubai. 34 degree celsius. The hottest it has been in the last week. There is a chance that we might get dew later in the evening, and toss could be a crucial factor in this game. -- Dipak Ragav

Pakistan’s interim head coach and selector Aaqib Javed has enlisted the help of former teammate Mudassar Nazar to assist in preparing the team for their crucial Champions Trophy clash against arch-rivals India in Dubai on Sunday (February 23, 2025).

Aaqib invited Mudassar to join the Pakistan team’s nets session in Dubai to share his insights on the playing conditions, particularly any recent changes.

Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed noted that the high-stakes nature of India-Pakistan games offers players the best chance to showcase their skills, and the extra pressure on the players gives this encounter its charm. 

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a knockout or whatever. It is beyond game, and that’s the beauty. If you look at the positive, it’s the best time and chance for any individual or team to make a mark,” said Javed. 

“What is pressure? It is the thought of what will happen before and after a game. No one knows. Right now, we are all guessing what will happen in this match. This is the beauty of it.”

Former captain Sourav Ganguly thinks the current Indian team is not only better than Pakistan but is also the favourite to win the ongoing Champions Trophy. 

Ganguly, who played a lot against Pakistan, said the neighbouring country would need some special effort to beat India in their Group-A engagement on Sunday (February 23, 2025).

“India is a powerful white-ball team. In the last 25 years, India has lost only once to Pakistan in a world tournament. India is the favourite for this tournament. It won’t be easy for Pakistan,” said Ganguly, who was named the brand ambassador of construction chemical manufacturer Vura here on Friday, February 21, 2025.

India: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Shubman Gill (vice-capt.), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K.L, Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy. 

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-capt.), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Match officials: On-field umpires: Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth; TV umpire: Michael Gough; Fourth umpire: Adrian Holdstock; Match Referee: David Boon.

The Men in Blue have come out on top in five of their last six ODI meetings (the other was a no-result because of rain). The last time Pakistan triumphed was in the 2017 summit clash of this very tournament.

The two outfits will enter the ‘Ring of Fire’ in contrasting frames of mind. Fresh off a convincing win against Bangladesh in the opener, India looks like a well-oiled machine. Pakistan, on the other hand, has its back to the wall, having lost its first match to New Zealand and desperately seeking a victory to stay afloat. 

As is often the case in Indo-Pak encounters, this latest instalment is set to be a battle between India’s batting might and Pakistan’s pace attack.

There are many fabled sporting rivalries worldwide, be it between clubs or nation-states. However, it wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that an India-Pakistan fixture on the cricket field trumps most contests, and continues to be fierce. 

On Sunday (February 23, 2025), the latest instalment of cricket’s ‘El Classico’ – 136th in ODIs – will get underway at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium when the arch-rivals meet in their second Group A match of the Champions Trophy.

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