With the highly anticipated Champions Trophy set to begin next month, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has recommended that Sarfaraz Ahmed be appointed as the team’s mentor, especially for their key clash against India. The tournament, hosted by Pakistan, will see India playing all their matches—including the knockouts—in Dubai due to security concerns.
A Historic Rivalry Rekindled
India and Pakistan will face each other in the group stage of the tournament on February 23. The two teams last met in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan to a commanding victory, clinching the trophy. Since then, Pakistan has struggled to defeat India in ICC tournaments, with their last win coming in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Sarfaraz’s Experience Could Be Key
Basit Ali believes Sarfaraz Ahmed’s leadership experience, particularly his success against India, could provide valuable insights to the team. “Sarfaraz Ahmed should be appointed as a mentor for this match. He has the experience of beating India and lifting the Champions Trophy. His suggestions can make a difference,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
He also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not taking swift action to appoint a mentor for the tournament, pointing out that Afghanistan recently named Younis Khan as their mentor. “People in Pakistan, including the board, seem to be sleeping. They need a mentor against India, and who better than Sarfaraz, who knows what it takes to win against them?”
India’s Road Ahead
Rohit Sharma’s Indian team is grouped with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand in the Champions Trophy. India begins its campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by the much-awaited encounter with Pakistan on February 23. After a six-day break, they will face New Zealand in their final group-stage match. All of India’s games will be held in Dubai.
The Stakes Are High
With both teams aiming to make a strong start, the potential addition of Sarfaraz Ahmed as a mentor could give Pakistan an edge. His experience and knowledge from leading Pakistan to victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy could inspire the side to break their recent streak of losses against India in ICC tournaments.
