This will be the first time Pakistan and India will clash in the ICC Champions Trophy final. India is eyeing their third title, Pakistan their maiden crown.
Cricket fans couldn’t have wished for a better final match than Pakistan versus India. Their prayers have been answered.
Two Asian cricketing giants and arch-rivals Pakistan and India are all set to put up a dazzling show in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 on Sunday (18 June 2017).
Pakistan qualified for the Champions Trophy final after successfully chased down a 212-run target with 8-wickets spared against England at Cardiff. On the other hand, India marched their way into the final after beating Bangladesh by 9 wickets in Birmingham.
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who missed semi-final against hosts England due to his back spasm, now is believed to be fit. Meanwhile, Pakistani spectators will be looking Fakhar Zaman’s skills in Champions Trophy 2017 final. Zaman grabbed the opportunity in the most emphatic manner.
This will be the first time Indian cricket team and Pakistan cricket team will clash in the ICC Champions Trophy final. India is eyeing their third title, Pakistan their maiden crown.
Pakistan and India are scheduled to lock horns with each other in the final of Champions Trophy on Sunday at The Oval.
We know how to handle pressure, says Kohli
The Indian captain said that his team knows how to handle pressure of a big match like today’s finale against Pakistan.”It’s been quite a few years I have been doing that (coping with the pressure of expectations). Honestly, you can’t think of those things when you step onto the field,” Kohli told reporters in his pre-match press conference at The Oval.
Kohli has five man-of-the-match awards in only 17 matches against Pakistan across all formats. He averages 96 in wins against them, and 7.20 in defeats.
I will give my best in the final: Hasan Ali
The young Pakistani pacer, who is the leading wicket-taker of the Champions Trophy – will get a perfect chance to realize his dream when he will spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack in Sunday’s final against India here at The Oval.
“As a cricketer from Pakistan you grow up dreaming of a victory against India and to be a performer in that match,” Hasan, who has taken ten wickets from four Champions Trophy matches so far, said in an interview on Saturday.
Hasan, who has taken 39 ODI wickets since his debut against Ireland at Malahide last year, has been Pakistan’s star performer in the tournament. Of his 10 wickets just one, Suranga Lakmal, was a tail-ender. The other nine are Yuvraj Singh, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Wayne Parnell, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes.
Pakistan’s coach Mickey Arthur and his Pakistan team promises an all out attack in the final match. The only way Pakistan can beat in-form India is by attacking them, Arthur said.”We have to (attack), we’ve got no option,” he said.”We’ve got to try and make that new ball really work for us. We’ve got to try and get into them.”
The 15 men hoping to bring the #CT17 trophy home to Pakistan tomorrow! Are you backing them to shock India? #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/IJ3MFAAwIq
— ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2017
Teams (likely):
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah.
