Pakistan’s interim head coach and selector, Aaqib Javed, has brought in former teammate Mudassar Nazar to help the team prepare for their crucial Champions Trophy 2025 clash against India. The much-anticipated encounter is set to take place on Sunday in Dubai.
Aaqib invited Mudassar to the team’s net session to provide insights into the playing conditions, particularly any recent changes that could impact the game. A source close to the team revealed that Mudassar, who has been based in Dubai for several years and works at the ICC Academy, has extensive knowledge of the local conditions.
Mudassar, a former Pakistan coach and ex-Director of the PCB High Performance Centre in Lahore, joined the squad on Friday and will continue assisting them through Saturday. Having previously coached Kenya and the UAE, his experience is expected to provide valuable input as Pakistan looks to bounce back from their opening defeat against New Zealand. A victory over India is crucial for Pakistan to stay in contention for the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Indian batting star Virat Kohli has been intensely focusing on refining his technique against spin ahead of the high-stakes match. A day before the clash, Kohli arrived at the ICC Academy in Dubai two hours ahead of his scheduled practice session, working on his approach against slow bowlers.
The 36-year-old has struggled against spin in recent ODIs, a weakness that was once again exposed in India’s opening game against Bangladesh. Kohli fell to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, marking his sixth consecutive dismissal to a spinner in ODIs. He was caught at backward point while attempting to cut a delivery, a recurring issue that has troubled him in recent matches.
Earlier this year, in India’s home series against England, leg-spinner Adil Rashid also managed to dismiss Kohli, further highlighting his vulnerability against quality spin bowling.
As India prepares to take on Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium, Kohli will have to tackle the challenge posed by leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who could exploit this weakness. With both teams under pressure, Pakistan’s strategic move to bring in Mudassar and Kohli’s extra efforts in training underline the significance of this blockbuster contest.
With Pakistan fighting to keep their tournament hopes alive and India looking to assert dominance, all eyes will be on the marquee clash, which promises high-intensity cricket between the two arch-rivals.
