Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on Pakistan’s chances at the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, expressing confidence in their ability to perform well, especially in home conditions. He believes that if the defending champions make it to the knockout stages, they could become one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament.
Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Shastri highlighted Pakistan’s recent strong performances in white-ball cricket, particularly their series wins in Australia and South Africa, as key indicators of their growing momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy.
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Shastri emphasized that playing at home in the sub-continent comes with massive expectations, something teams like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan all experience. However, he feels that Pakistan has the right squad depth and experience to handle the pressure and capitalize on familiar conditions.
“There is always pressure when you play at home in the sub-continent, whether it is India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Pakistan – the expectations are massive,” Shastri said, as quoted by ICC.
He further noted that the exposure Pakistan has gained over the past six to eight months in white-ball cricket will serve them well in the Champions Trophy. Their ability to perform under different conditions, particularly in South Africa, has made them a formidable unit.
While praising Pakistan’s squad strength, Shastri also acknowledged the absence of young opening batter Saim Ayub, who is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury.
“They have missed Ayub at the top, and he is a crucial player,” he remarked.
Despite this setback, Shastri remains confident in Pakistan’s squad depth, stating that they still have enough firepower to make an impact.
“Pakistan have enough depth to be dangerous, especially in home conditions. I would say they should qualify for the semi-finals and from there, it’s anyone’s game,” he added.
Pakistan will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. Although they suffered a loss to New Zealand in a recent home tri-series featuring South Africa, their back-to-back series wins in Australia and South Africa suggest they are in good form heading into the tournament.
Pakistan also faces a must-win match against South Africa on February 12 in Karachi, which could be crucial in determining their momentum before the Champions Trophy.
Shastri believes that if Pakistan manages to reach the semi-finals, they will be a formidable opponent for any team.
“Pakistan are still very, very dangerous, and if they qualify, they will be doubly more dangerous,” he concluded.
Pakistan’s Group Stage Fixtures:
February 19 – Pakistan vs New Zealand, Karachi.
February 23 – Pakistan vs India, Dubai.
February 27 – Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Rawalpindi.
Pakistan squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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