By Ehsan Qureshi at National Stadium, Karachi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Massive challenges await the defending champions, Pakistan, as they launch their campaign in 9th edition of the ICC Champions Trophy with a fixture against New Zealand in the tournament opener on February 19.
Pakistan have already suffered back-to-back defeats against New Zealand in the recently concluded tri-series, with South Africa being the third participant.
After suffering a defeat in the opening match at Lahore, they were later also outplayed in the final by the same opponents at the upgraded National Stadium, Karachi, where the opening match of the Champions Trophy is being staged.
Despite having suffered injuries to their spearhead, Lockie Ferguson, and another promising speedster, Ben Sears, the Black Caps, captained by Mitchell Santner, have gained vital experience and acclimatize well to the conditions in Pakistan as they extended their purple patch by also winning the warm-up match against Afghanistan even when resting a couple of big guns, including star batter, Kane Williamson.
They shared a record 260-run second wicket stand after they the hosts had been reduced to 93 for three. It was a fabulous win for green shirts as South Africa had rested their premier fast bowler, Kagsio Rabada.
The big boost for the home side is the form of Salman Agha. He has improved in leaps and bounds as a batting all-rounder during the last few months. He will be needed to fire on all cylinders if Pakistan have to defend the title successfully.
Pakistan’s major worries revolve around bowling death overs where pacemen Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have been leaking far too many runs. Haris Rauf seems all set to return to the team after side strain in the opening match of tri-series.
The performances of the home side have been roller-coaster at times in the recent past but they continue to be unpredictable and inconsistent during crunch situations.
The Pakistan team has faced criticism for selecting with only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, in the 15-member squad. The recalling of all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah after gap of a few years has also been questioned.
On the other hand, the Black Caps, have been in possession of a formidable pace-cum-spin attack despite losing their two exceptionally talented fast bowlers, Ferguson and Sears. Will O’Rourke did rise to occasion by taking four wickets in the final to clinch Player of the Match award.
They are very well served in the spin bowling department with Santner leading by example. Micheal Bracewell has bowled brilliantly while Glenn Philips has also done the job reasonably well to stifle the opponents.
Pakistan had performed disappointingly in the last couple of T20 World Cups as well as the 50-over World Cup in India where they failed to qualify for semifinals.
Being the hosts, the stakes and expectations are on the higher side high as they need to win at least two of their three league matches to stay afloat in the competition.
It seems long time ago, but Pakistan had emerged triumphant in the last edition of the Champions Trophy, held. in 2017. Led by wicketkeeper-batter, Sarfaraz Ahmed, they thrilled the nation by thrashing arch-rivals India in the final at The Oval in London.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have been entrusted with the responsibility of staging a major event after a lapse of 29 years. This is going to be their first ICC event in the country after they had jointly hosted the Wills World Cup with India and Sri Lanka in 1996.
The cricket fans in Pakistan in particular are looking forward to the 9th Champions Trophy whose final is scheduled to be played on March 9. Plenty of action and drama are expected over the next few days as all the leading teams, with the sole exception of India, who chose to play their matches in Dubai, will be setting Pakistan's grounds to fire with their blazing performance.
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