India vs Pakistan encounters are always special, and with the two nations limiting their cricket battles to only ICC events during the last few years, the upcoming Champions Trophy clash is massive. The rivalry between these two arch rivals will resume when India faces Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 4.
It goes without saying that both teams will look to outdo one another. Pakistan's left-handed batsman Haris Sohail, who has replaced Umar Akmal for the Champions Trophy, is a man on a mission.
He wants to perform big against India, but for that he needs to be selected in the playing XI, which will be his dream right now.
"I will try my best to play my role in the team's success. Every player wishes to perform well against India. If I get a chance to play against India, I will surely try my best to put up a good performance against them," Express Tribune quoted Sohail as saying.
However, one does not even know if the player will make it to the playing XI for Pakistan. Had Sohail been their ideal choice, the left-hander would have been in the squad, and not brought in as replacement for someone. So he was not their first choice.
Sohail has not played for Pakistan since May 2015, and it could be a huge surprise if the left-hander makes his ODI return against India, who have always performed better in ICC events.
India have a 11-0 record in World Cup and World T20, but Pakistan have defeated India twice in CT.
So their dream would to beat Team India once again, and with the way things have gone for India successfully in the last few months under Kohli, it is a herculean task.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa are included in a tough group. India's clash against Pakistan is going to be important in the context of the competition as only two teams can reach the semifinals of the Champions Trophy among the four.
Hence, the start is going to be of utmost importance as the June 4 clash marks the beginning of Champions Trophy 2017 for both India and Pakistan.
