Sarfaraz Ahmed Confident in Pakistan's Title Defense at ICC Champions Trophy
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Synopsis
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is optimistic about the Mohammed Rizwan-led team's chances of defending their ICC Champions Trophy title at home. With key players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, he believes Pakistan has a strong squad to compete against top teams in the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Sarfaraz Ahmed expresses confidence in Pakistan's chances.
- Key players include Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman.
- Pakistan's tournament opener is against New Zealand.
- High expectations from home fans.
- Competitors include India, Australia, and Afghanistan.
New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed asserts that the Mohammed Rizwan-led team has a "good chance" of successfully defending their ICC Champions Trophy title in front of their home crowd.
During Sarfaraz's captaincy, Pakistan triumphed over India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval, marking their first title win.
The seasoned wicketkeeper-batter emphasized that players from the victorious 2017 squad, such as Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, will play crucial roles in their journey through the eight-team event.
"Pakistan have a really good chance of defending that title. I believe they have a robust team. Some of the boys from 2017 are still present, particularly Babar Azam, who has evolved into a more mature and dominant player since then," Sarfaraz stated as quoted by ICC.
"His batting will be vital for Pakistan, along with Fakhar Zaman. On the bowling side, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are exceptional bowlers and are performing well. The captain, Mohammad Rizwan, also serves as a wicketkeeper-batter, a strategy that worked effectively for me back in 2017," he added.
Sarfaraz acknowledged the additional pressure Pakistan will face while performing at home.
"There will certainly be pressure. Given that Pakistan is at home and is the defending champion, expectations will be high, but the fans will rally behind them.
"The competition is fierce; every team has a chance to win. I believe Afghanistan has a strong squad, along with Australia and India. Their spin options are impressive, which is essential for success in these conditions," he stated.
Sarfaraz identified Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan as his favorites to reach the semi-finals.
"If I had to choose four semi-finalists, I’d select Pakistan, India, Australia, and Afghanistan at this point, but I wouldn’t dismiss any team," he remarked.
The 37-year-old also shared his views on the highly anticipated encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Dubai on February 23, calling it a significant event.
"Among the pool matches, everyone will focus on Pakistan’s clash with India, which will be monumental.
"Whenever we face off, it’s a special event filled with hype and pressure. However, as players, it’s crucial to remain calm, tune out the distractions, and compete with the same intensity as against Australia or any other team," Sarfaraz expressed.
Pakistan will kick off their campaign against New Zealand in the tournament opener at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 19.
