Pakistan Cricket chief hopeful of win vs India: We are fully prepared

PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi backed Pakistan to bounce back against India in their crucial Champions Trophy clash, emphasizing the team's ability to stage a comeback despite their opening loss to New Zealand.

In Short

• PCB Chief Naqvi expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ability to recover
• Pakistan face a must-win clash against India after New Zealand defeat
• Fakhar Zaman’s injury added to Pakistan’s struggles ahead of India clash

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi has backed the national team to pull off a crucial victory against India as the two arch-rivals lock horns in the highly-anticipated Champions Trophy clash on February 23. While Pakistan will be under pressure to keep their semi-final hopes alive, India will enter the contest with momentum on their side.

Pakistan’s campaign started on a disappointing note after their 60-run loss to New Zealand in the tournament opener on February 19 in Karachi. This defeat not only extended their losing streak against the Black Caps—marking their third straight loss since the Tri-series—but also left them in a precarious position in the group stage. Speaking to the media ahead of the blockbuster encounter, Naqvi expressed full confidence in the team’s ability to turn things around. He emphasised that despite the pressure, Pakistan had the firepower to stage a comeback.

"It will be a good game. Definitely, our team is fully prepared. I think we are in form and Pakistan will win. Let's see what happens next," Naqvi said.

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With each team playing only three group-stage matches, the clash against India has now become a virtual must-win game for the Mohammed Rizwan-led side.

Meanwhile, India heads into the fixture brimming with confidence after a dominant victory over Bangladesh in Dubai on February 22. The Rohit Sharma-led side produced a clinical all-round performance, strengthening their position in the group and making them favorites for the upcoming clash.

For Pakistan, the road ahead is anything but easy. Their net run rate suffered a significant blow after the New Zealand loss, further complicating their qualification chances. Adding to their woes is the injury to key batter Fakhar Zaman, who famously dismantled India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. His absence leaves a major void in the batting lineup, putting additional pressure on Pakistan’s top order to step up.

With the stakes higher than ever, Pakistan will need a near-flawless performance to keep their Champions Trophy dream alive. The high-voltage encounter against India not only holds immense significance in terms of qualification but also serves as a battle for pride on home soil.