2025 ICC Champions Trophy: Shaheen Afridi threat forces Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to do this huge thing ahead of IND vs PAK clash
India National Cricket Team are putting in hard yards ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be beginning their campaign in the tournament against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team on 20th February.
But the biggest clash for the India National Cricket Team in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy will be against the Pakistan National Cricket Team. The clash between the two arch-rivals will be taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Sunday (23rd February).
Pakistan National Cricket Team bowlers always have troubled top-order batters of India National Cricket Team. Left-arm pacers, in particular, Shaheen Afridi, since the last few years, have caused hiccups for India skipper Rohit Sharma along with Virat Kohli and some other batters as well.
However, to tackle that threat, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli came up with the special preparations for Shaheen Afridi. The India National Cricket Team management has called for a left-arm pacer from the UAE, who can help them prepare for the match.
The fast bowler reportedly was firing full deliveries of the India National Cricket Team batters, especially Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The pacer got a call from Team management, and he himself confirmed that he was called so that Men in Blue could tackle Shaheen Afridi's threat.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma only informed because they will be up against Shaheen Afridi on Sunday - UAE cricketer
Speaking to Sports Yaari, the pacer said that he was categorically told by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma they will be up against Shaheen Afridi on Sunday, so they want to prepare for that. He said:
"My name is Awais Ahmad and I am a domestic UAE cricketer who bowls left-arm fast.Our coach received an SMS that they need a left-arm fast bowler and he told me that I have to bowl to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. I am very excited about it.
"Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma only informed because they will be up against Shaheen Afridi on Sunday. I can bowl both – in swing and out swing – and hopefully I will be able to try and get them out. Either LBW or bowled. They are players who have achieved everything, they operate at a different level. We are nothing in front of them."