Pakistan team is capable of beating India in Champions Trophy, claims Younis Khan

E-Paper | May 02, 2026

Former Test cricketer Younis Khan said on Sunday, "Pakistani side has the ability to beat India in Champions Trophy as Pakistan has outperformed India in the past as well."

"Pitches look good and in my opinion, even 400 runs will be easily chased down in the Champions Trophy," said the former captain.

Younis Khan tipped Pakistan team to concentrate on fielding, in addition to bowling and batting.

"In modern cricket, fielding is the key for winning ODIs and T20 Cricket and Pakistan team must focus on fielding and grab every opportunity," he added.

He pinned hopes on Sarfaraz Ahmed to take Pakistani cricket team forward. "It's a great chance for Sarfaraz Ahmed to lead the side well and take Pakistan cricket forward and all will depend on him that how he leads the side."

He also emphasised the need to support all players so as to keep their moral up.

Pakistan will be facing its archrival India in its first match of the Champions Trophy on June 4.

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iqbal

May 28, 2017 07:20pm

need yasir shah. he is in form bowler.he can take 5 wickets in 300 runs

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vorshal

May 28, 2017 07:46pm

Wishful thinking, indeed! Perhaps he cannot dare to speak the truth.

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S. Daniel

May 28, 2017 08:26pm

It is very tough to beat India but I think Pakistan should try to play positive cricket for future prospective. Respect for both nations.

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Zakir hussain

May 28, 2017 08:28pm

And india is capable of repeating performance as defending champions and win champions trophy

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abhay

May 28, 2017 08:34pm

Best of luck sir... we want good and close match.. Loss or win is not imp.

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Hindu, UK

May 28, 2017 08:34pm

Best wishes for both the teams. We are brothers.

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Srinath

May 28, 2017 09:11pm

He played in the 2015 world cup match and he was more or less invisible throughout the whole match. That was his level of impactand now he is coming and talking about taking on the current India team

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Yogi baba

May 28, 2017 09:19pm

The team that plays good all around cricket on that day will win, simple as that.

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May 28, 2017 10:28pm

Now that you are retired and yet not 40, you can play in IPL 2018. We would love to see you here

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ShaIlesh

May 29, 2017 01:31am

There is no rivalry anymore. It ended 15 years back. The Pakistani team has been pretty bad in the last decade.

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Atticus from india

May 29, 2017 07:44am

He is right.. india has a better team, Pakistan has a small chance of beating India. For the trophy however, the English team seem most deserving. They are playing fantastic cricket and also have the home advantage.

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Mnkhan

May 29, 2017 08:11am

Pakistan had a chance if pitches were a bit supportive for bowlers. It is murder of ODIs to have pitches on which even 350 will not be enough. India is the only batting lineup who can easily chase 400 on batting pitches even against a good bowling side. The mindset of our players and coaches is still a decade behind modern day cricket. The fact that players like azhar and ahmed shehzad will be playing for their places and malik /hafeez playing to prolong their stay, things have become even more difficult Its too early to judge sarfaraz leadership but what i have seen is the same mindset when using bowlers; defending rather than attacking; too much focus on stopping runs than trying to get batsman out

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Rajesh

May 29, 2017 09:00am

Dreaming is fine... Does not harm anyone.

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INSANE

May 29, 2017 09:30am

8th ranking team is definitely capable of beating any higher ranking team.

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ahmed

May 29, 2017 09:42am

Not crime to dream as far as YK he knows that current team is worst team only two players are of international standard Amir and Sarfarz rest are mediocre players

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Adil

May 29, 2017 12:22pm

@vorshal Truth is your board involve politics in sports , your country want to isolate us , not just in cricket but in all sports , see kabadi you dint even provide us the VISA , anyway its just a matter of time , you can always do these little cheap things . but you can never put us down . he younis khan talk's positive, as on paper we are lower side compare to India,but we are capable to beat them. and even if we lose its OK we still love our player and our country . Pakistan Zindabad.

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Syed

May 29, 2017 12:55pm

On current performance and team strength, India seems a better side, so maybe just a moral boosting statement. However it is cricket, and on their day anyone can beat any team at this level. A few quick wickets and tables very quickly turn.

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Ahmed

May 29, 2017 01:31pm

now that you are out, may be they would win. BTW when you were in team, did you ever chase 300, let alone 400.

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Keith

May 29, 2017 01:52pm

Very tough to beat India based on current form

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Desi

May 30, 2017 03:08am

This team will start winning when our players stop playing dot balls. Azhar, Shahzad and Hafeez play too many dot balls and get out. Game is usually lost by the end of 30th over. Replace these three with players who can play shots, runs will come and then we can compete. There won't be a hero in every match at the end to score sixes and fours. I wish the team all the best and hope that it wins the trophy, but realistically chances are almost negligible. If we reach second round, that should be considered a big achievement. After this tournament, start a new team and bid farewell to Azhar, Hafeez,Shahzad, Akmals and Wahab. Give them time to settle. We will inshallah get to top 3 again

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N.shivakumar natarajan

May 30, 2017 07:27am

If you can beat India ,thats your champions trophy

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Sarah

May 30, 2017 03:01pm

@S. Daniel India is struggling against Bangladesh today.Forget about 2nd round India progress.

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Sarah

May 30, 2017 03:02pm

@Zakir hussain Gone are those days.India down slump in ODI and T20I has started already.

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Sarah

May 30, 2017 03:02pm

@N.shivakumar natarajan Your wishes will be fulfilled .

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LOUDSPEAKER

May 30, 2017 04:32pm

No doubt Indiain cricket team is very strong, they have mastered the technique of this format but the unpredictability factor of the game is always there to upset any high rated team's expectations.

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Irfan,UK

May 31, 2017 02:41pm

400 runs chased down, but not by Pakistan their batsmen just aren't good enough

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PRINCE Of WHALES

May 31, 2017 06:42pm

Good thoughts but not possible.

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Darwin

May 31, 2017 08:26pm

yeah they have got potential

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Sunil

Jun 01, 2017 12:36am

@INSANE Ranking will not matter on a given day team performing better will win.

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