Former Pakistan Captain Sarfaraz Recalls 2017 Champions Trophy Win

February 13, 2025: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led his team to victory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, shared insights on the team’s journey after their shocking loss to India in the group stage and the message that was communicated to the players before the high-profile final against their arch-rivals.

In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, Pakistan stunned India with a dominant 180-run victory, defending 339 runs. This win marked Pakistan’s third major white-ball title after the 1992 Cricket World Cup and the 2009 T20 World Cup. However, their campaign began on a sour note with a crushing 124-run defeat to India in the group stage, where Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli played key roles in India’s commanding win.

Despite the heavy loss, Sarfaraz recalled how senior players like Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez played a vital role in helping the team regroup. “Afterwards (following the defeat to India), we had a great team meeting, and some of our senior guys – Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez – all said their piece. You need those types of characters around you,” Sarfaraz said. “We changed our mindset from that day. The acrimony was very good for us, we made a couple of changes to the team and it helped our confidence.”

Pakistan then bounced back, defeating South Africa, Sri Lanka, and England on their way to the final. Fakhar Zaman, who debuted in the group-stage game against South Africa, brought in fresh energy and strength at the top of the order. Additionally, bowlers like Junaid Khan and Rumman Raees delivered crucial breakthroughs, especially in the semi-final against England, where Pakistan secured an eight-wicket win.

Reflecting on the semi-final, Sarfaraz said, “We played England in the semi-finals and our bowlers were just superb.” When it came to the final, he was confident that the team’s performance level was high, and his message to the players was simple yet crucial: “Relax.”

In the final, Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant century laid a strong foundation, and Mohammad Amir’s spell with the ball tore through India’s top-order, guiding Pakistan to an unforgettable victory. Sarfaraz spoke about the team’s mindset ahead of the final, stating, “We knew we had beaten some of the best teams, so India was nothing we had not seen. I told the guys to relax, forget the result and just give 100 per cent.”

The moment of victory was a cherished one for Sarfaraz. “When the last wicket went down and we won, it is impossible to describe that feeling in words. When I took the last catch, I was at the gully. And I just ran. I saw Shoaib Malik and ran into his arms, I jumped into him and hugged him. The whole team then joined in. It was indescribable,” he concluded.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pakistan will face New Zealand on February 19, 2025, in Karachi, followed by a crucial match against India on February 23 in Dubai. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups, with Pakistan being placed in Group A alongside Bangladesh, India, and New Zealand. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy includes Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.