Srinagar: Former India Cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has claimed that the current Pakistan team is way weaker than the India ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy-2025 India vs Pakistan clash.
The last time Pakistan beat India in an ODI was the Champions Trophy final in 2017. Since then, the two sides have met each other six times in the Asia Cups or the World Cups. India have won five of those while there was a rain washout in Palekelle in 2023.
“Pakistan is nowhere near to India’s league. India have dominated them right throughout in recent times, and this time, Pakistan look even weaker, but that hasn’t done anything to take the shine off the battle,” Manjrekar said in Hindi commentary during the Afghanistan vs South Africa Group B match when he asked to pick a between India-Pakistan and Australia-England rivalry.
“Quality-wise, the England vs Australia match will be slightly better but if you ask any Indian and Pakistani fan they would definitely say Sunday’s match. The fever is there,” he added.
“You need spinners to succeed in these conditions and Pakistan only have one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed. They will bowl Salman Agha or Khushdil Shah but that won’t be enough to trouble the Indian batters. Pace won’t be able to have much of an impact,” he said.
Sunday’s encounter is a must-win match for Pakistan as they lost to New Zealand by 60 runs in their opening match whereas India beat Bangladesh comfortably by six wickets.