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    ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final: What Are Pakistan's Chances against India?

    Written by: Ismail Umar
    Posted on: June 16, 2017 |

    Virat Kohli (L) and Sarfraz Ahmed (R) (source: inUth)

    Admit it, many of you, who will be watching the ICC Champions Trophy final this Sunday, are not cricket fans. Yet you choose to paint your faces and scream at the top of your lungs when an India-Pakistan match comes around, because, well, it’s an India-Pakistan match! Even now, you may be struggling to understand the stakes. But do not worry; our comparison of the top Indian and Pakistani players will make life easier for you.

    INDIA

    Perhaps not surprisingly, the Indian team has been performing brilliantly in this tournament. Having only lost once to Sri Lanka, they have otherwise been at the top of their game throughout. India’s greatest strength is their deadly batting line-up, combined with intelligent captaincy. Hence, the three men to watch out for are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.  

    Virat Kohli

    The captain of the Indian cricket team knows exactly how to manage his players, decide who goes on when, and do strategic field placements. Of course Kohli is also a force to be reckoned with as a player, and he continues to impress with his batting. Once he settles into the game (which doesn’t take long), not even high pressure rattles him. In fact, he tends to thrive and perform even better under pressure, especially in matches where India is chasing.

    Shikhar Dhawan - ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final: A Comparison of Pakistan and India

    Shikhar Dhawan (source: NDTV Sports)

    Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan

    Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are the top scorers of this year’s Champions Trophy. That ought to tell you something about their skill with the bat. They are an ideal opening pair for the fierce Indian batting line-up.

    Overall, if these three men are in form, they are quite literally unstoppable. Middle order batsmen don’t even get a chance to come to the pitch.

    Rohit Sharma - ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final: A Comparison of Pakistan and India

    Rohit Sharma (source: ESPN CricInfo)

    PAKISTAN

    Pakistan has a history of performing badly when confronted by the Indian team in major tournaments, especially the World Cup. However, this time, they have many reasons to be confident. Not only did they defeat South Africa and Sri Lanka in succession, but they also crushed England, the only team that had not lost a single match in the tournament. Pakistan’s strength lies in its world class bowlers and its level-headed captain. The four men to watch out for are Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed.  

    Hassan Ali, the highest wicket taker of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 - ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final: A Comparison of Pakistan and India

    Hassan Ali, the highest wicket taker of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 (source: RealSport)

    Hasan Ali

    Hasan Ali is the top wicket-taker of this tournament; a right-arm seamer who has stunned even the most experienced batsmen with his high-quality bowling and effective use of variation. Something about him reminds us of the glorious old days, when our team possessed bowling legends such as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

    Mohammad Amir - ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final: A Comparison of Pakistan and India

    Mohammad Amir (source: Sky Sports)

    Mohammad Amir

    Mohammad Amir could be quite damaging to the Indian line-up. While he hasn’t taken many wickets in this particular tournament, he could be a match-winner for Pakistan if he delivers.

    Junaid Khan

    Junaid Khan is a fast bowler who has that all-important ability to take quick wickets. He is known to perform well even under pressure. His role would be crucial, along with that of Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir.

    Sarfraz Ahmed

    In the last three matches, Sarfraz has displayed great captaincy by using the right bowlers at the right time to put pressure on the opposing team, and even more importantly, giving Pakistan a positive mindset. He also has the benefit of being the wicket keeper for his side, which allows him a good view of the ground and enables him to support his bowlers throughout the game. Moreover, as a batsman, Sarfraz performs well under pressure, often giving match-winning performances when Pakistan’s middle order crumbles.

    The Indian team may be favourites for the upcoming final, but if Pakistan attacks them early on, we have a fair chance of a win. We will need to utilize our strong bowling and complement it with good fielding, which will play an integral role in deciding who takes home this year’s ICC Champions Trophy.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021