Champions Trophy 2025, Rashid Latif Prediction: Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has urged his team to focus on playing aggressive cricket in next month’s ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan is hosting its first ICC event after a gap of 28 years, having last hosted the 1996 World Cup. However, in the eight-team competition, only seven teams including Pakistan will play in the country, as India will play all its matches in Dubai.
Pakistan will enter the mega tournament as defending champions after defeating India in the final of the 2017 edition. Latif feels that the home team should focus on its preparations and not think about the possibility of India not going to Pakistan for the tournament. Rashid told Pakistan’s English Daily Dawn, “This is an exciting time for the cricket-mad country. The world’s top teams will participate in this mega event.”
He said, “I appreciate the efforts of the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who, together with the International Cricket Council (ICC), lobbied tirelessly to ensure that Pakistan got the opportunity to host this tournament. India will play their matches in UAE, and that is their job; Pakistan should only focus on playing aggressive cricket.”
Latif expressed confidence in Pakistan’s spin ability, which will keep them ahead in home conditions. He said, “I am confident that our players will take advantage of the opportunity to play in home conditions. We have excellent spinners like mystery bowlers Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem and Faisal Akram. Apart from this, Salman Ali Aga is a valuable asset.”
Meanwhile, the former cricketer also shared his concerns about Pakistan’s opening pair as Sam Ayub is recovering from an ankle injury suffered during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
He said, “I am worried about Sam Ayub’s injury, and with Abdullah Shafiq also not in form, we are in a bit of a dilemma.” He also pointed out that in recent years, Pakistan has experimented with several opening combinations including Abdullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman and Shan Masood.
He said, “While all these players are talented, finding the right combination can be a challenge. I am not sure what the selectors are thinking, but perhaps they will choose Fakhar and Shan Masood as the opening pair. We will have to wait.” We will have to see more.”
Latif described India as a ‘strong team’, but described England, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa as strong rivals for Pakistan. He said, “India is a strong team, but I believe that these four teams can pose a big challenge.”
Pakistan will face New Zealand in the tournament opener on February 19 in Karachi, while the much-awaited clash with arch-rivals India will take place in Dubai on February 23.
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