As the excitement builds ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, legendary Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf has shared his thoughts on the tournament, highlighting New Zealand and India as the most balanced sides but emphasizing that Pakistan holds the advantage of home conditions.
Balanced Sides: New Zealand and India
Yousuf believes that New Zealand and India are the most well-rounded teams heading into the tournament. He praised New Zealand’s depth, pointing out that their squad is tailor-made for subcontinent conditions.
“They have a well-rounded squad suited for subcontinent conditions. Their lineup includes three quality fast bowlers, good spinners, and a solid top six in batting. Their wicketkeeper is an all-rounder, and they have two spin-bowling all-rounders as well,” Yousuf said, acknowledging the balance New Zealand brings to the table.
Similarly, he acknowledged that India also boasts a strong and balanced team, with players capable of performing across all departments.
Pakistan’s Home Advantage
While he sees New Zealand and India as favorites, Yousuf believes Pakistan can leverage the advantage of playing in home conditions. He pointed out that the familiarity with the pitches and the support of the home crowd gives Pakistan a unique edge. However, he stressed the need for strategic play.
“Pakistan has the edge because they are familiar with the conditions. However, they must play calculated cricket throughout the tournament,” said Yousuf.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also been praised by the former Test great for successfully renovating all the stadiums in record time, which has added to the excitement surrounding the tournament.
“I am very excited, like any other Pakistani. After 29 years, Pakistan is hosting an ICC event,” Yousuf remarked. “Kudos to the PCB for completing these renovations in just six months.”
Strategic Play and Handling Spin
Yousuf offered some insightful advice to the Pakistan team, urging them to focus on rotating the strike and handling spin effectively, especially on turning wickets. He emphasized the importance of finding gaps against spinners and minimizing dot balls.
“We have played on turning wickets recently, so we need to find the gaps against spinners, rotate the strike, and minimize dot balls. In the tri-series final against New Zealand, we struggled to dominate their spinners in the middle overs,” he said, offering a crucial tip for the team in the upcoming tournament.
Expectations on Scores
Yousuf also shared his expectations regarding match totals, based on pitch conditions. For double-paced pitches, he anticipates a competitive total of 300, while on flat tracks, he believes teams should aim for 350-400 runs.
“If the pitch is double-paced, a total of 300 will be competitive. However, if it’s a flat track, teams should aim for scores between 350 and 400,” he concluded.
Pakistan’s Path to the Final
As defending champions, Pakistan will open the tournament with a clash against New Zealand on February 19 at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi. Following this, they will face arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai, before playing Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
With home advantage, a deep squad, and Yousuf’s words of wisdom, Pakistan will hope to defend their title and make the most of their home support as they embark on their Champions Trophy journey.
