Pakistan enters the tournament as defending champions having won the previous edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017, defeating India in the final. While Pakistan has won the tournament once, India has won twice: in 2013 and in 2002,

Pakistan's head coach Aaqib Javed expressed confidence in his pace bowling attack ahead of the crucial Champions Trophy match against India. Despite the absence of key player Fakhar Zaman, Javed believes the team’s strong pace unit,

The lop-sided nature of arguably cricket's fiercest rivalry in recent years notwithstanding, emotions in both countries will run high when bitter neighbours India and Pakistan clash in a Champions Trophy blockbuster in Dubai on Sunday.