All posts tagged: Cricket in Dubai

Yuvraj Singh believes Pakistan have an edge in India vs Pakistan clash

Yuvraj Singh believes Pakistan have an edge in India vs Pakistan clash

Published by Webster

After both India and Pakistan have played their opening games in the Champions Trophy, it would not be absurd to think of Team India as the favourites. Rohit Sharma’s men, after all, brushed aside Bangladesh in their opening game by six wickets while Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 60 runs at home. Making matters more complex for the defending champions is the fact that the big game on Sunday will be played in Dubai, where India have already played one game while Pakistan, who are technically the hosts of the tournament, will be visitors at the stadium. Their defeat to New Zealand means that Pakistan need to win their game against India if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semis alive. Story continues below this ad But Yuvraj Singh believes that Pakistan are the team which will have an edge on Sunday when India confront Pakistan. “I actually think Pakistan has an advantage because they have a base in Dubai. They have played a lot of cricket there and understand …

Babar Azam’s sluggish strike-rates pit him in stark contrast to creative Virat Kohli

Babar Azam’s sluggish strike-rates pit him in stark contrast to creative Virat Kohli

Published by Webster

On Friday as Babar Azam made his entry into the ICC Academy here, he did so with a grim face, appearing a bit lost. Not even young kids chanting his name would brighten the mood nor the sight of some familiar faces at the academy whom he just greeted with a customary handshake. Back home, since the defeat against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener, there is no player in this Pakistan team who is under as much pressure as Babar whose 90-ball 64 in the chase of 321 had made him a national villain of sorts. Be it sports shows or prime time news or YouTube channels, Babar’s strike-rate and intent still remain the hot topic of debate. Over the next couple of days, as an all-important showdown with India awaits on Sunday, which is now a must-win fixture for Pakistan to stay alive in the tournament, more eyes will undoubtedly be on Babar. For a team that is missing Saim Ayub and lost Fakhar Zaman to injury in the opener, Babar was …

‘Salman Agha could become poster boy for Pakistan cricket’

‘Salman Agha could become poster boy for Pakistan cricket’

Published by Webster

As hosts Pakistan face New Zealand in their Champions Trophy opener at the National Stadium in Karachi today, the defending champions would hope to emulate their 2017 title-winning campaign. The Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan team has included talents like Tayaab Tahir and Salman Agha in the squad and former Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Salman Agha can be the poster boy for Pakistan cricket with a dominating performance in Champions Trophy. Champions Trophy 2025, PAK vs NZ LIVE Cricket Score: Watch Here Agha has so far played in 33 ODIs with one hundred and five half-centuries under his belt and his maiden ODI hundred came last week against South Africa during the tri-nation series. “I am excited about two players. Tayyab Tahir and Salman Ali Agha. What a player Salman Agha is. He has quality and press handling ability. I am seeing a Pakistani player with on field presence for the first time in many years. I really hope he does not go like some of the other players did. He could become the …

R Ashwin on India vs Pakistan

R Ashwin on India vs Pakistan

Published by Webster

With India and Pakistan set to face each other in the Champions Trophy at Dubai on February 23, it will be the sixth time that the two archrivals would play against each other in a Champions Trophy game. While Pakistan had won the 2017 Champions Trophy with a ten-wicket win over India, the Rohit Sharma led Indian team will be eying to score their third win over Pakistan in Champions Trophy. In ICC Tournaments including World Cup, T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, India has won 16 matches out of 21 matches with just four losses and former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared that the current Indian team does not play under any pressure while facing Pakistan. Champions Trophy 2025, PAK vs NZ LIVE Cricket Score: Watch Here “At present, whenever India and Pakistan play against each other, the Indian team is not under that much pressure as compared to what Pakistan team experiences. The Indian team is much more relaxed when there is a match against Pakistan at present. The Pakistan team is …

Stage set in Karachi today, India waits in Dubai as hybrid Champions Trophy kickstarts

Stage set in Karachi today, India waits in Dubai as hybrid Champions Trophy kickstarts

Published by Webster

IN DUBAI, the city of endless possibilities, home to expatriates, cricket teams of India and Pakistan will kick-start a new arrangement with the Champions Trophy. India will be holed up here while Pakistan play at their home. If India hosts an ICC tournament next, India will be playing at home, while Pakistan will find itself in Dubai. Up until 2027, both teams with storied history — which can’t avoid facing each other in global events because of the revenue they generate – will play each other only at neutral venues. The first of such fixtures is scheduled for Sunday, with thousands expected to fly down from world over for the cricketing El Clasico. Story continues below this ad “It’s quite sad that it has come to this,” Mudassar Nazar, a Pakistan veteran of many battles against India at home, away, and in neutral Sharjah, laments. “More than the players, it is the public who will miss out on the biggest fixture in cricket,” he tells The Indian Express. “There are millions who are waiting to …