Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has asserted that the players are in good spirits despite losing their opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 to New Zealand in Karachi. The right-arm speedster also brushed aside the notion that Pakistan are feeling any pressure ahead of facing arch-rivals Team India.
With the clash against India on February 23, Sunday in Dubai, looming as a must-win one, they are likely to feel some pressure. The Men in Blue also look high on confidence as they began their campaign with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rauf stated:
"Saare ladke theek hain aur apne next match pe focus kar rahe hain ki usko kaise dekhenge aur aaj hamaari pehli practice hai yahan pe. Toh koshish karenge ki accha practice karein aur accha match dekhne ko mile sabko."
(Everyone is good and are focussing on their next match. Today is our first practice session here in Dubai and we will try to do our best, so the spectators can witness a good match on Sunday)
"Nahin koi pressure nahin hai, normal match hai aur usko usi tarah lenge hum."
(No pressure whatsoever and we are treating it like any other game)
"The focus is to utilize the conditions in the best possible way" - Haris Rauf
Rauf, who took figures of 10-0-83-2 against New Zealand, suggested that Pakistan will take confidence from their previous two outings against India in Dubai, which resulted in wins (T20 World Cup 2021 and Asia Cup 2022). As quoted by ASports, he claimed:
"No doubt, we have defeated India twice at this venue, and we will try to play the same kind of cricket that helped us win those matches. Many of the boys are confident that it will be a good game. The record here is quite good, but in the end, it all depends on what the conditions demand. Sometimes, it turns into a spin-friendly track, but the focus is to utilize the conditions in the best possible way."
