Champions Trophy: Wahab Riaz Confident Pakistan’s Part-time Spinners Will Hold Their Ground Against India

February 23, 2025: As the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash approaches in the ongoing Champions Trophy, former Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz has expressed confidence in his team’s spin attack, despite having fewer full-time spinners than their Indian counterparts.

In the high-stakes encounter, Pakistan will look to bounce back after a disappointing loss to New Zealand, while India, the 2017 Champions Trophy finalists, will aim to avenge their defeat in the final of that tournament. With both teams having everything to play for, the pressure is building, particularly on Pakistan’s bowling department.

While India boasts a variety of spin options, including Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Washington Sundar, Pakistan’s spin attack relies mainly on Abrar Ahmed, their sole full-time spinner. Along with him, part-timers Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha add to the spin options, but these two are less experienced at the international level compared to the spin-heavy India side.

However, Wahab Riaz, speaking ahead of the match, backed Pakistan’s part-time spinners, saying that they would not be at a disadvantage. “I do not think Pakistan will be affected by the lack of full-time spin options,” Wahab stated. “Pakistan had a plan before this tournament and they depend a lot on Khushdil and Salman. They have not bowled much on the international level, but domestically, they have a fine record as spinners.”

Despite the fact that Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha haven’t bowled frequently in ODIs, Wahab remains confident in their abilities. He highlighted their impressive domestic records and their ability to handle the pressure on the big stage. “Things won’t always go your way, like it did against New Zealand. But with the ball gripping and turning, there will be no advantage to India. Whoever plays better and holds their nerves better will win,” Wahab said.

Khushdil Shah, though not very experienced at the international level, has had success in domestic cricket. He has claimed three wickets in 14 ODIs and has a solid record in List-A matches with over 80 wickets. Similarly, Salman Agha has made an impact in domestic cricket, with 89 wickets in List-A matches, although his international experience is limited with only 16 wickets in 34 ODIs.

Abrar Ahmed, the most experienced of the three spinners, has already shown promise in his international career, taking 14 wickets in eight ODIs with an average of 26.85. His role as Pakistan’s lead spinner will be crucial against a potent Indian batting lineup.

As the match unfolds in Dubai, Pakistan’s bowling strategy will be put to the test, and the part-time spinners will need to step up against India’s formidable spin department. However, Wahab’s belief in Pakistan’s ability to rise to the occasion is clear. Both teams will need to control their nerves and execute their plans effectively to come out on top in this high-pressure encounter.

With the stakes at an all-time high, the battle between India and Pakistan promises to be a thrilling contest, with the spin battle playing a pivotal role in determining the outcome.