DUBAI: Pakistan’s batting firepower has faltered again as they set a modest target of 242 runs against India with Saud Shakeel only batter to score a half-century in the do-or-die clash for their side in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 being played at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, the hosts could accumulate 241 runs before getting bowled out in the final over despite an anchoring half-century by Saud Shakeel.
Pakistan’s batting prowess once again failed to impress as they set a modest target of 242 against India in a do-or-die match at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Sunday, with only Saud Shakeel able to score a half-century for their team.
Opting to bat first, the hosts managed 241 before being dismissed in the final over despite Saud Shakeel’s half-century.
Pakistan’s new opening pair of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq looked promising as they added 33 runs before Hardik Pandya caught the former out to give India a much-needed breakthrough.
Babar scored 23 runs off 26 balls, hitting five fours in the process.
Making a comeback to the national team, Imam could not convert a cautious start into a big innings as he was run out by Axar Patel in the very next over, reducing Pakistan to 47/2 in 9.2 overs.
After back-to-back blows, captain Mohammad Rizwan and Saud forged a forceful recovery partnership.
The pair batted sensibly, adding a crucial 104 runs for the third wicket until Rizwan was bowled out by Axar Patel in the 34th over.
The Pakistani captain scored 46 runs off 77 balls, with the help of three fours.
Saud, the centrepiece of Pakistan’s batting, followed suit after just eight balls, returning after top-scoring with 62 runs off 76 balls, which included five fours.
Veteran Ravindra Jadeja then consolidated India’s lead by removing Tayyab Tahir (four) and reducing Pakistan to 165/5 in 36.1 overs.
Pakistan’s vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah then put on a 35-run partnership to take their team to 200, but Kuldeep Yadav refused to let them come back, striking off two consecutive balls.
Khushdil then took the reins of Pakistan’s batting campaign and scored 38 runs off 39 balls with the help of two sixes.
He was also involved in short partnerships with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who scored 14 and eight runs respectively.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking three wickets, followed by Pandya with two, while Harshit Rana, Jadeja and Patel took one wicket each.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (C/WK), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubhman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Pavindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadav.
