As the excitement builds for one of cricket’s most anticipated rivalries, defending champions and tournament hosts Pakistan are set to face arch-rivals India in their second match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday.
Following a challenging start to their campaign, where they suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening match in Karachi, the Men in Green are eager to bounce back.
Adding to Pakistan’s woes, opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In his place, left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq has been named as a replacement. For the high-stakes encounter against India, Pakistan is expected to make two significant changes to their playing XI, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq and middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam.
Imam will likely open the innings alongside captain Babar Azam, with Saud Shakeel slotting in at number three. Meanwhile, middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir is expected to be left out to accommodate Kamran Ghulam, who will add depth to the batting lineup. Usman Khan’s participation remains uncertain, as he is currently out of form and has yet to make his ODI debut.
Despite the changes in the batting order, Pakistan is likely to retain its formidable bowling attack. The pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf will lead the charge, supported by spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Here’s how Pakistan is likely to line up against India:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Batsman | Imam-ul-Haq |
| Batsman | Babar Azam |
| Batsman | Saud Shakeel |
| Wicketkeeper | Mohammad Rizwan (c) (wk) |
| Batsman | Kamran Ghulam |
| All-Rounder | Salman Ali Agha (vc) |
| All-Rounder | Khushdil Shah |
| Pacer | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Pacer | Naseem Shah |
| Pacer | Haris Rauf |
| Spinner | Abrar Ahmed |