Just like the Champions Trophy 2017 started for India and Pakistan, the two nations are set to clash once again, but this time it's going to be in the final. India and Pakistan are set to battle it out for the Champions Trophy at the Oval on Sunday and with their head to head record in this tournament 2-2 at the moment, both teams will go all out to win.
Prior to the start of the Champions Trophy 2017, Pakistan were leading India in the head to head record in the Champions Trophy but that loss at the start of the tournament levelled it. Now, Pakistan will be more determined than ever to get one over India and hopefully win their first Champions Trophy.
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Pakistan might also have a slight advantage on India leading up to the final in terms of fitness. They played their semi-final match against England on the 14th and will have four days to prepare themselves for the final. India, on the other hand, will have just three days to recover and get ready for the final.
One day should not really make that much of a difference but for Pakistan, it will as it give the likes of Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and Imad Wasim time to recover from their injuries. Amir was ruled out from the semi-final with a back spasm while Ali and Imad picked up a shin and calf injury during the match against England.
The reason why that extra day of rest matters so much for Pakistan is because their bowling has been a key reason as to why they made it to the final of the Champions Trophy 2017. While Amir and Imad have not been that impressive with the ball in the tournament having picked up just three and two wickets respectively, the fitness of Hasan Ali will be a major concern.
The Pakistani bowler is the leading wicket taker in the Champions Trophy 2017 with 10 wickets and although he was not impressive against India in the previous match, he will definitely play a key role in the final. Even though they did not feel his absence against England in the semi-final, India will pose a completely different challenge and they need their best players available.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur described Hasan one of the "beacons" of this Pakistan side and he could be the difference between winning and losing the final for Pakistan. The extra day's rest will hopefully be enough time for Hasan to recover from his shin injury and Pakistan's captain Sarfraz Ahmed praised him and the youngsters in the team.
"I think he has a little bit of a shin problem, but he's okay and bowling extremely well for us. I'm very happy about my youngsters performing, especially Hasan who is improving day-by-day, Shadab has also and now Fakhar Zaman, he's playing in his third match and now he's batting just like a champion batsman," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Ahmed as saying.
