Rashid Latif urges aggressive approach for Champions Trophy

English , Snippets , Sports - کھیل اور کھلاڑی , / Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

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ISLAMABAD: Former Test cricketer Rashid Latif has urged Pakistan to adopt an aggressive approach in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, emphasizing their potential to retain the title.
The defending champions, Pakistan, won the 2017 edition by defeating India in the final. Rashid, speaking to Dawn, expressed his excitement as Pakistan hosts this prestigious event, marking a significant milestone for the country’s cricket.
“These are exciting times for a cricket-crazy nation. The world’s top teams will be participating in this mega event,” Rashid said. He also emphasized that Pakistan should focus solely on playing attacking cricket, without worrying about India’s matches in the UAE.
Rashid, who represented Pakistan in 37 Tests and 177 ODIs, believes the team is on the right track. He highlighted Pakistan’s strong spin department, naming Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Faisal Akram as key players.
However, Rashid expressed concerns about the opening pair. He noted the injury to Saim Ayub and the poor form of Abdullah Shafique, leaving Pakistan in a dilemma. Rashid suggested that Fakhar Zaman’s potential return could solve the issue.
Looking ahead, Rashid identified England, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa as Pakistan’s biggest challenges. The ICC Champions Trophy will be held from February 19 to March 9, with Pakistan hosting the tournament across three venues.