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Pakistan did not have a great start to the 2025 Champions Trophy. New Zealand thrashed the hosts by 60 runs. Moreover, the next game for Pakistan is against India which is a do-or-die fixture.
Moreover, India have a better head to head record in ICC tournaments over Pakistan which only adds to the pressure. However, Haris Rauf is not too fused about the past and admitted that Pakistan’s focus is on the upcoming game against India in Dubai. He recognises the fact that the next game is a must-win for the defending champions if they want to remain alive in the eight-team tournament.
“What’s past is past. We are now focusing on the India game. We will address the mistakes we made in the previous game and try not to repeat them. For us, it’s an important fixture; a do-or-die game. We need to win this to stand a chance of qualifying for the semifinals,” Haris Rauf was quoted saying ahead of the high-octane fixture against India.
Rauf further revealed that the morale of the team is not down and they are quite relaxed ahead of the all-important game against India.
“The morale is not down; all the boys will try hard and give their best. It is an important fixture, and we will aim to perform well in all departments – batting, bowling, and fielding. There is no extra pressure; we are relaxed. We will treat it as just another match,” Rauf added.
Haris Rauf confident of beating India once again in Dubai
Pakistan’s last ODI victory against India came in the 2017 Champions Trophy when they beat them in the final. Post that, they have a couple of wins over them, both of which came in Dubai in T20Is. One was in the 2021 T20 World Cup and the other was in a Super Four encounter in the 2022 Asia Cup.
Hence, that gives them some sort of confidence, according to Rauf. Pakistan’s aim is to repeat those performances which produced positive results for them.
“There is no pressure in the match against India, all the players are relaxed and we will take it just like any other match. We have beaten India twice here in Dubai. We will aim to make it three and repeat those performances. We are confident, and it will be a great match,” the 31-year-old fast bowler said.
Pakistan have a 3-2 head-to-head record against India in the Champions Trophy. However, in the World Cups and the T20 World Cups, they managed to win just one out of 16 matches.
