‘Arduous For…’: Ricky Ponting Points Warning Forward Of IND vs PAK Champions Trophy 2025 Conflict

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes Pakistan’s probabilities of success within the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have taken a major hit following their 60-run loss to New Zealand within the opening match.

The damage to star opener Fakhar Zaman, who has been dominated out of the rest of the event, has additional compounded Pakistan’s woes. Ponting mentioned Pakistan’s plight with host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Evaluation and the previous Australia captain thinks it’s going to be powerful for the Asian facet to place the lack of Fakhar behind them and return to successful methods in opposition to India on Sunday.

“It will be arduous for Pakistan now,” Ponting mentioned as quoted by ICC. Pakistan’s title defence obtained off to a poor begin once they fell to a 60-run loss to the Black Caps in Karachi and the information obtained worse for the reigning champions when it was revealed that star opener Fakhar Zaman would miss the rest of the event because of damage.

“We spoke just a few days in the past and my prediction for that recreation was that Pakistan would beat New Zealand and doubtless beat them fairly comfortably. Fakhar’s damage didn’t assist their trigger however they have been chasing a really massive whole on the again of some nice batting from New Zealand. To submit 320, it was at all times going to be a tough run chase.” Nevertheless, Ponting emphasised that Pakistan wants to maneuver on shortly and discover a technique to regroup forward of their essential match in opposition to arch-rivals India on Sunday.

“With Pakistan, we discuss it each event, they’re unpredictable. You by no means fairly know what they’ll do.” “On their day, they have been as succesful as anyone. And now, having misplaced to New Zealand, they’ll must be at their very best in opposition to India to beat them. India has obtained off to a terrific begin, Pakistan not a lot. And with that damage that we spoke about, I feel it’ll be arduous for them to bounce again, however they’ll,” he concluded.

Ponting had sympathy for Fakhar, who injured himself whereas fielding in opposition to New Zealand and was then visibly disenchanted after he was dismissed with the information that his damage had flared and he would probably miss the rest of the event. Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that Imam-ul-Haq had been introduced into their squad to exchange Fakhar and Ponting mentioned the crew wanted to maneuver on as shortly as potential to make sure they offer their greatest in opposition to India.

“When one thing like that first occurs, I feel you are higher off simply kind of staying away and letting them come to phrases with what’s simply occurred after which allow them to settle down somewhat bit after which go and put your arm round them later,” Ponting mentioned, after seeing visuals of Fakhar’s disappointment within the Pakistan dressing room. “That’s about all you are able to do. It’s heartbreaking. These gamers work for these massive tournaments. He has been in excellent contact as nicely. been making a number of runs.”

“And his teammates can be gutted to not have him, however much more so for him…it’s at all times a tough factor to recover from, however on the finish of the day, you must recover from it. You’ve got to discover a technique to bounce again actually shortly.” “The perfect factor you are able to do is sit again within the dressing room that evening and focus on it and put it to mattress and go away it there. After which once you rise up the subsequent day, as a gaggle, you’ve got to discover a technique to regroup and discover somebody that may are available in and do an excellent job for Pakistan,” he concluded.