Why PCB Should Have Included Iftikhar Ahmed In Champions Trophy 2025 Squad?

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Iftikhar Ahmed for Pakistan [Source: @IftiMania/x.com]Iftikhar Ahmed for Pakistan [Source: @IftiMania/x.com]

India and Pakistan are facing off against each other in the fifth match of the Champions Trophy 2025. The match is being played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan won the toss ahead of the game and opted to bat first. They got a steady start to their innings but failed to capitalise on the start. The Indian team made a brilliant comeback as they slowed down the scoring rate of the opposition and also gave them a set back with a few wickets. 

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel Lay The Foundation For The Pakistan Team

After putting on 41 runs for the opening wicket, Pakistan lost a couple of quick wickets and were 2 down for 47 runs. From this stage, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel stitched together a partnership of 104 runs stabilising the ship for the team.

The partnership between Rizwan and Shakeel laid the foundation for the team to post a formidable total. From this stage, Pakistan needed their lower middle-order batters to come up with impactful knocks and take the total past the 270-mark at least.

Why Pakistan Needed Iftikhar Ahmed?

India made a strong comeback in the game as they picked up three wickets in a span of three overs. Pakistan were able to add only 14 runs at this stage and completely lost the momentum in their innings. 

They got a 35 runs partnership after this and started to make a comeback once more. However, once more they suffered a mini collapse and lost two wickets without adding any further runs.

It was at this stage that Iftikhar Ahmed could have been a trump card for the Pakistan team. The right-handed batter has played 16 innings at the number six position. In these 16 innings, Ahmed has scored 461 runs at an average of 51.22 and a strike rate of 114.39. 

The numbers clearly show the impact and consistency of Iftikhar Ahmed as a finisher. He could be strengthened the position of the Indian team at the stage they lost the momentum against India.