Champions Trophy: Imam-ul-Haq Joins Pakistan as They Elect to Bat First Against India

Synopsis

In a crucial Group A encounter at the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pakistan, under captain Mohammad Rizwan, has opted to bat first against India, with Imam-ul-Haq making his return to the ODI format. The match unfolds at Dubai International Stadium amidst high stakes for both teams.

Key Takeaways

Imam-ul-Haq joins Pakistan's XI.
Rizwan won the toss and elected to bat first.
India aims for a win to secure a semi-final spot.
Pakistan risks early elimination with another loss.
Both teams are familiar with the pitch conditions.

Dubai, Feb 23 (NationPress) Imam-ul-Haq is set to join Pakistan’s lineup after captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss, choosing to bat first against India in a pivotal Group A match of the 2025 Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

The last encounter between these two teams was during the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, where India secured a victory by seven wickets. A win for India, who triumphed over Bangladesh by six wickets, would position them near the semi-finals.

In contrast, another defeat for the defending champions Pakistan, who lost to New Zealand by 60 runs, could result in their early departure from the eight-team tournament.

After the toss, Rizwan announced that Imam would replace Fakhar Zaman, who is sidelined due to an oblique injury. This will mark Imam's first ODI appearance since the 2023 ODI World Cup.

“The pitch looks promising and we prefer to bat first. Every match in an ICC event holds significant importance. The players are well-acquainted with the conditions, and we have performed well here before. Although we lost the last match, it’s behind us now,” he stated.

India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that they are maintaining the same squad that faced Bangladesh. “While the surface isn't identical, it resembles what we played on in the previous match. It may slow down. This is a great chance for us to showcase our skills as a team. Our last game required considerable effort, and we aim to test ourselves under pressure,” he expressed.

The pitch for Sunday’s match, which is expected to attract a full house, has been utilized twice previously, with square boundaries measuring 70m and a straight boundary of 81m.

Playing XIs-

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

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