Coach confident in Pakistan’s balance ahead of high-stakes clash against India

Pakistan’s interim head coach Aqib Javed has expressed confidence in the team’s balance and preparation ahead of their much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Aqib assured that Pakistan’s playing XI will remain largely unchanged, with a strategic mix of pacers and spinners suited to the conditions.

“The Pakistan team is well-balanced, and you will not see any major changes in the playing XI,” he stated. 

“We have a specialist spinner, along with Khushdil Shah and Agha Salman. We need to balance the team carefully—it’s not like we can play five spinners, and so far, we haven’t seen pitches offering excessive turn.”

Aqib stressed the importance of mindset and handling pressure, particularly for young players stepping onto such a massive stage.

“The environment is crucial. If you tell young players that pressure exists but it’s just another match, they will go out, show their talent, and forget about the result. That makes a huge difference,” he explained.

He further downplayed the fear of losing, encouraging his players to take the field with courage and confidence.

 “There’s always a fear—what if we lose? But nothing happens. Play with bravery,” he said.

Recognizing the intensity of Pakistan-India encounters, Aqib Javed acknowledged that regardless of past records, the excitement remains the same.

“Whether it’s after winning ten matches or losing six, the excitement of a Pakistan-India match never changes,” he remarked.

When questioned about Pakistan’s ability to adapt to modern-day cricket in the T20 era, the interim head coach stressed that it all comes down to mindset and adaptability.

“It’s all about how you assess the conditions, the crowd, and the pitch. 

Are they similar to what we have in Pakistan, or are they slightly different? We will play accordingly,” Aqib remarked.