Former cricketer Atul Wassan surprised many by expressing his desire for Pakistan to win against India in the Champions Trophy clash on Sunday in Dubai. Pakistan, having faced a 60-run defeat to New Zealand, needs a victory to stay in contention. Wassan believes Pakistan’s win would enhance the tournament’s excitement, stating, “If Pakistan wins, it becomes a contest.” He praised India’s batting depth and highlighted their strategy to field a spin-heavy attack, considering the conditions in Dubai. As India gained momentum with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh, the upcoming match remains critical for both teams’ campaigns.
Former cricketer Atul Wassan surprised everyone by expressing his support for Pakistan in their upcoming high-stakes match against India in the Champions Trophy in Dubai this Sunday. In this clash of titans, Pakistan aims to defend its title while facing its fierce rival, India. After a disappointing start with a 60-run defeat against New Zealand, Pakistan finds itself in a challenging position. If they fail to improve against India on Sunday, they may require various scenarios to keep their campaign alive. Wassan believes that the tournament would become much more thrilling if Pakistan triumphs in this critical encounter.
“I want Pakistan to win because it will be enjoyable for the tournament. If Pakistan doesn’t win, then what happens next? A victory for them makes it a competitive match; there should be an equal contest,” Wassan told ANI.
Wassan also assessed India’s squad for the ongoing Champions Trophy, praising the depth of batting in the lineup. Considering the conditions, he supported India’s approach of deploying a spin-heavy attack in Dubai, asserting that it comprises the best team available.
“You have many strong batters: Shubman (Gill), Rohit (Sharma), Virat (Kohli). You can bat all the way down to number eight with Axar Patel. Rohit has selected five spinners, making this squad ideal for Dubai. Trust in your resources and push forward,” he added.
While Pakistan started its tournament on a losing note, India secured a comfortable six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their opening match.
India’s squad for the Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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