India v Pakistan: Cricket's ultimate grudge match in the desert

 

A billboard in Lahore features India and Pakistan's captains ahead of the Champions Trophy

In the much-anticipated World Cup league match in Ahmedabad in 2023, India and Pakistan played their last major 50-over match.  It turned out to be a bit of an anticlimax as a contest because India, in dominant form, easily chased down a poor Pakistan target and won decisively. Aside from the cricket team, Pakistan's only notable presence was in the media center due to the lack of visas for Pakistani fans to travel to India.  Sunday's ICC Champions Trophy clash between the arch-rivals at Dubai International Stadium promises a vastly different atmosphere.

 Tickets sold out in a matter of minutes, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).  With over 3.7 million Indians and nearly 1.7 million Pakistanis staying in the UAE, a lively and well-represented group from both countries is almost certain. But in this crucial matchup with India and a sea of green flags in the stands, can Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan's team overcome the odds? Pakistan has a strong head-to-head record in UAE, winning 19 of 28 ODIs and one T20I in Dubai during the 2021 World Cup.

Pakistan won the Champions Trophy Final against India at the Oval by 180 runs in 2017

During Pakistan's dominance in the 1980s and 1990s, when they won 18 of 24 games there, the majority of their victories against India came at Sharjah. In the 2018 Asia Cup, India defeated them twice in Dubai, and in the 2006 Abu Dhabi series, both teams won one game each. The trend has shifted since Pakistan's glory days in Sharjah; India has largely dominated in the new millennium, with the exception of the occasional T20I victory. Veteran cricket writer Ayaz Memon feels there is no reason to look at India-Pakistan clashes in the UAE through the prism of the past.

 "In the days of Sharjah, Pakistan was without a doubt supported by a large crowd, led by the local Pathan population." However, the team then boasted of Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail, and the "two Ws" (Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis)," according to Memon. "Compare that to the current state of the team, which occasionally produces exceptional results but lacks consistency."

Pakistan fell to a 60-run defeat in the championship opener against New Zealand

There are no welcome banners at the airport in Dubai, the glitzy city-state in the United Arab Emirates that is expanding at a rapid rate. Instead, the city is filled with posters of Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, and others as the annual Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships are in full swing. Head south, and the 'Ring of Fire' at Dubai International Stadium emerges from the highway, signalling cricket's presence.

 The arena is lined with huge pictures of all eight captains, but for the next two days, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma's and Mohammed Rizwan's teams as fans around the world wait to see what will happen to them. The International Cricket Council (ICC) consistently places India and Pakistan in the same group for major tournaments in order to meet the needs of broadcasters and marketers. This guarantees at least one high-stakes league matchup, with the possibility of a memorable knockout matchup. At a time when cricket faces overexposure and its international structure is threatened by the rise of T20 franchise leagues, the India-Pakistan rivalry remains its biggest box-office draw.

Shubman Gill's classy century powered India to a comfortable win over Bangladesh on Thursday

The fact that even the heavyweights can lose a lot of money due to the competitive top-eight team format of the ICC Champions Trophy is a big plus. ''The 50-over World Cup gives you a chance to pull back even if you stumble in the odd game as there are 10 games in the fray.  India captain Rohit Sharma stated on the eve of their opening match against Bangladesh that "it's much different here where all three of your group matches are important to proceed to the semi-finals." With a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Thursday, India overcame their first obstacle thanks to Shubman Gill's classy century, Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul, and a quick cameo from skipper Rohit Sharma, who reached the 11,000-run mark in the format. The expected absence of Jasprit Bumrah as he recovers from a back spasm suffered in the final Test in Australia remains a topic of conversation. On this wicket, however, the spinners will take center stage. Pakistan's lead-up to the tournament has been a rollercoaster - both unpredictable and vulnerable.  The picture is perfectly conveyed by their last three ODIs.

Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul helped India win the game against Bangladesh

Ten days ago, Pakistan defeated South Africa by a record 353 runs in Karachi, securing a spot in the Tri-series final thanks to Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha's stunning 260-run stand. But just two days later, they faltered and appeared ordinary as New Zealand breezed past them by five wickets, denying them a title that would have given them confidence going into the Champions Trophy. Then, on Wednesday, their bowlers made early progress, but they let the Kiwis off the hook and lost their tournament opener by 60 runs. This has put them at a disadvantage heading into the big game, and the statement by captain Rizwan that they will view the India match as "just another game" has enraged former Pakistan greats. Similar to Imran Khan's famous "caged tigers" rallying cry from their World Cup victory in 1992, history demonstrates that Pakistan thrives in such circumstances. India is favored by odds, but Pakistan cannot be discounted on UAE soil. After all, it's a brand-new day and a brand-new battle, and in a big game, anything can happen.