Former Pakistani cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq, who contributed to the rise in Indo-Pak popularity, believes the limited encounters only increase the strain when the event’s fervor reaches an all-time high
The rivalry between India and Pakistan dates back many years. Because of the tense relations between the two countries, the bitter rivals no longer play bilateral series and only compete at ICC events. It is important to remember that the last bilateral series between the two teams was in 2012. But because there isn’t much action between the two, their fixtures are the most sought-after whenever they meet.
When the Asian powerhouses square off in the current Champions Trophy on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, fans will have one more chance to witness the action.
“Pressure is constant. That pressure increases when you only play one game a year. With so much cricket being televised these days, players keep a tight eye on one another. We used to play it as a team game, with the winner being the team with superior balance. However, as T20 cricket has developed, the focus of the game has shifted to individual skill.
On JioHotstar’s Greatest Rivalry Returns, Inzamam-ul-Haq stated that one player has the ability to change the outcome of a match.
“With all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja offering balance in the bottom order, India has had a good team in recent years. Having such players is crucial in subcontinental situations. The squad with superior balance will still have an advantage, he continued.
In their 21 meetings at ICC events, India has the advantage, having won 17 of the games in all formats while Pakistan has only won four. They defeated them in the finals of the 2017 Champions Trophy, which was one of the four.
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