Shoaib Akhtar, Ravi Shastri, Jay Shah & Rajeev Shukla | Image: Shoaib Akhtar/ Instagram
India and Pakistan gear up for their much-anticipated Champions Trophy match in Dubai on Sunday, excitement among fans is at an all-time high. The rivalry between these two cricketing nations has always been intense, making every encounter a thrilling spectacle.
Ahead of the big game, former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar shared a picture on social media featuring a reunion of several Indian and Pakistani figures in Dubai.
In the photo, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, new BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri, and BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla were seen together with Akhtar. Captioning the post, Akhtar wrote, “How many faces do you recognize? The eve of the Greatest Rivalry.”
Past performance in ICC touraments
India and Pakistan didn’t play bilateral series, while they meetonly in ICC tournaments, which makes every match even more special. The last time they clashed in the Champions Trophy was during the 2017 final, where Pakistan dominated and secured a massive 180-run victory under the leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed.
However, in their most recent meeting at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in New York, India turned the tables by successfully defending a low total of 120 runs, winning a nail-biting contest.
Going into this crucial game, India is riding high on confidence after a convincing win against Bangladesh. Young batting sensation Shubman Gill led the charge with an unbeaten century, while experienced pacer Mohammed Shami made a stunning comeback, picking up five wickets.
On the other hand, Pakistan is under pressure after a disappointing 60-run loss to New Zealand, where only captain Babar Azam managed to score a half-century, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled.
For Pakistan, this match is nothing short of a virtual knockout. A loss against India would mean elimination from the tournament, making the stakes even higher. With so much on the line, fans can expect yet another electrifying chapter in the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
