Fakhar Zaman highlights key Indian players in Champions Trophy

Listen to article

Pakistan's opening batter, Fakhar Zaman, has named some of the key players from the Indian cricket team who he believes will be crucial in the upcoming Champions Trophy.

In an online press conference, Fakhar Zaman discussed the changing nature of the pitches in Dubai, stating that they are no longer as slow as they used to be.

He emphasised that the quality of the pitches depends on the ground staff, noting that it would be interesting to see what kind of wickets are prepared for the Champions Trophy.

He further explained, "Having flat wickets everywhere is not always a good thing. It's important to play in different conditions. Every player at the international level is a match-winner, and they play for the team."

Fakhar also shared his thoughts on India’s key players, saying, "In my opinion, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma will be important players for India in the upcoming tournament."

Looking ahead to his own preparations, Fakhar mentioned that he is gearing up well for the Champions Trophy, with good performances in the ILT20 and domestic matches. He said, "I have been playing in the league, and both my fitness and form are in good shape."

Reflecting on his memorable century in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Fakhar stated, "The memories of the 2017 Champions Trophy final and that century will always stay fresh. At that time, the team's morale was low, but we delivered an outstanding performance."

Fakhar added that while both Pakistan and Indian players are preparing well for the tournament, external pressure often increases when big players are out of form. "People tend to create more issues when big players are out of form," he said.

Regarding ICC events, Fakhar mentioned that the pitches are generally not too challenging. "In my career, I've learned that no matter what, we have to stay focused on the game," he said.

Lastly, Fakhar expressed his thoughts on playing against India, saying, "It would have been great if India had come, but these things are out of our control. We will miss the home crowd in a match against India."

Click here to read article