Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Devon Conway during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Karachi, Pakistan Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo)IND vs PAK: Ahead of the big India vs Pakistan clash in the group stage of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday, former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi has handed a damning indictment of the current Pakistan team. Afridi claimed that the current team that is looking to defend its Champions Trophy title doesn’t have players who know how to win a game single-handedly.
“If we talk about match-winners, I’d say that India has more match-winners compared to Pakistan. A match-winner is someone who knows how to win the game single-handedly. Right now, we don’t have such players in Pakistan,” Shahid Afridi said on JioHotstar for a special show in the build up to the India vs Pakistan game.
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In the show, Afridi was joined by Yuvraj Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu, and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Talking about India, Afridi said: “India’s strength lies in its middle and lower order, which has been winning them matches. For a long time, we have been giving opportunities to players, but no one has stepped up consistently. Some have performed in a few games, but we don’t have players who have sustained their performance for a year, two years, or across 50-60 matches. That’s where we are a little weaker compared to India, which is very strong in this area. But the key to winning against India is collective performance — whether it’s the batsmen, bowlers, or spinners — everyone’s contribution is crucial.”
Shahid Afridi also weighed in on Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy.
“As a captain, Rizwan has to set an example for others — that is very important. He must perform in every game, and his attitude, body language, and leadership matter a lot. Being a captain comes with equal amounts of praise and criticism. His performance will be crucial, as he is the glue that holds the team together. He treats everyone equally, he is a fighter, and his energy on the field is infectious. I have seen him step up in big matches, and I am confident he will lead the team well.”
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