Ishan Kishan, a wicketkeeper-batter for Team India, seems to cast a shadow on Rizwan Mohammad of Pakistan for his constant appealing. Kishan spoke with Anil Chaudhary, a former umpire, and went on to suggest that someone’s level of appeal can get so extreme that the umpire will give the player out even if they shouldn’t.

‘No, these days umpires are wiser,’ Kishan said on a separate occasion. He adds, In my opinion, appealing from behind the stumps needs to be done appropriately; however, umpires might also get fed up with far too many appeals in such a way that people are forced to stop trusting genuine calls. ‘I think umpires have gotten smarter. There are too many unnecessary appeals, where if a player is clearly out, then there could be a chance they are given as not out. It's best to make an appeal only when there's huge confidence so even the umpires trust such judgment,’ Kishan noted. He commented that if he were to become styled like Rizwan, the men in blue may not even think before making the decisions.

Umpire Anil Chauhdary & Ishan Kishan making fun of Rizwan.

pic.twitter.com/HWoZ68cxnd

— M (@anngrypakiistan) March 26, 2025

Also Read: Rabada’s bold take: ‘T20 is just batting, not cricket-where’s the balance?’

This discussion highlights the contrasting approach of players like Dhoni behind the stumps, where appeal after such a standard appeal was granted with such precision, further heightened by the fact that they're rather deep breaths of not dealing with Rizwan over appeals. While Dhoni’s appeals were well calculated, some, like Rizwan, have claims that end up making life tough for officials.

Kishan acknowledged umpiring’s pros and concurred that some umpires are quite respected, but others need to do better. He encouraged new umpires to be firm with their judgment calls and not give in to loud appeals or other outside influences.

Also Read: Ishan Kishan’s Top 5 Dream Opening Partners in IPL, Including Legends and Young Talents

“A few particular umpires are rather comforting to watch in a game, but I think new umpires as a whole need to step up their confidence levels, because at times there is too much second-guessing. If they think a batter is out, they should not need to think twice before raising the finger,” he further stated.

Pakistan Team has been out of the Champions Trophy where they have faced widespread criticism. Pakistan fought with the ICC to host the venue of the Champions Trophy 2025 and they were granted a hybrid model. While India refused to travel to Pakistan due to security reasons and political conditions. Pakistan played, their first match against New Zealand and lost the match eventually and travelled to Dubai to face their arch-rivals India. India beat Pakistan and within 4 days of its inauguration, Pakistan was out of the Champions Trophy. 

Having a mere chance but Pakistan match itself, was white washed against Bangladesh and both team setteled with single points. That raised various question on PCB their player managment their, staffs and most importantly the coach Aquib Javed. All were under the radar, Pakistan has lavished huge amount of money in, renovation of stadium and their team, were out within 4 days. Even fans had various questions around the team scrutinity. 

Read More: We will play fearless cricket says Pakistan New T20 captain Salman Ali Aga

Big players were under the radar.

It was noticed that Pakistan's team were under serious pressure, even their main players took the late acceleration. It has been said that when Babar and Rizwan play together run rate drops quickly. Even their bowling department had not worked out where Shaheen Afridi their premier bowler was leaking runs which mount up the pressure on, the team. Upon all this when their journey finished PCB tried to revamp everything from their system. As earlier they excluded Gary Kiersten and Gasom Gellispe too. Then they acquired Aquib Javed and under his guidance, they won the test series. 

After Champions Trophy everything was lost, Now Pakistan is ready with their next assignment of New Zealand series where they are going to play 5 t20 and 3 Odi international matches.  There have been lots of changes where Babar has been removed from T20s and added in ODI and Salman Ali Aga has given a chance to lead the team with Shadab Khan as vice captain of the team. 

Pakistan T20I squad: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Agha (capt), Irfan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyaan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan

Read More: Will India Take Up The Revenge Of 2000 Champions Trophy

Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.

Basit Ali unimpressed by the selection

Former Pakistan player Basit Ali is clearly unimpressed with the team selection stating that deserving candidates still didn't get chance. In his You Tube channel he went on saying what type of selection is this, Where is Saud Shakeel your highest run scorer in Pakistan India game, now his name suddenly gone He has claimed that deserving players had been sidelined while others secured their places through backdoor channels. 

The selectors have chosen most of the CT squad you removed Babar in T20 and included him Odi was quite Ok, He went on to ask Where is Mohammad Hasnain, who is your next big fast bowler, not in the squad? He has proven his ability, yet he is ignored in both formats and he didn't get a chance in CT either. What kind of injustice is this to a young, talented player? It's like they are circulating these 3-4 players and making a team which is not good for the future of Pakistan Cricket.

Pakistan Drops Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for New Zealand T20I Series

Pakistan's cricket selectors have brought in radical changes to the T20I side for the coming series against New Zealand. The biggest shock is that Babar Azam, the ex-captain, and Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batter, have been left out of the squad. Salman Agha is now the new T20I captain in their place, while Shadab Khan will act as the vice-captain.

New Faces in the Squad
With Babar and Rizwan unavailable, Pakistan has brought in new players to try their luck in T20 cricket. Mohammad Haris has been brought back into the team, while young guns such as Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad have been handed an opportunity. Omair Yousuf, a talented batter from the Quetta Gladiators, has also been added to the team.The bowling attack is unchanged, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf heading the pace attack. But Naseem Shah has been left out of the T20I team.

Pakistan name ODI and T20I squads for New Zealand tour

Details here ➡️ https://t.co/h5ZvZ3nuOY#NZvPAK

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) March 4, 2025

Changes in the ODI Squad
For the ODI team, Mohammad Rizwan has been appointed as the captain, and Babar Azam is still in the squad. Shaheen Afridi, however, has been omitted from the ODI team. Left-arm pacer Akif Javed has been given his maiden call-up to the national team in his place. Abdullah Shafique also returns to the ODI team after being left out of the last tournaments.
ALSO READ:Best Opener is Back! Hashim Amla's Unbeaten 82* Steals the Show in ILT20!

Reason for the Changes
These are part of Pakistan's plan to try out new combinations before the T20 World Cup, to be held in the West Indies and USA next year. The selectors are eager to try out new talent and prepare a balanced team for the future.

It took almost three decades for Pakistan to finally stage an ICC event, but it became a horror story for the hosts. Instead of expecting high-flying events at home, Pakistan, ironically, became the first team eliminated from the Champions Trophy.

A Tournament at Home: But Not Really
The thrill of having an ICC event after 29 years was soon lost when Pakistan was forced to host its do-or-die match against India in Dubai rather than on home ground. Something that was supposed to be a milestone for Pakistani cricket was lost, as the 'home ground advantage' was lost.

19th Feb - Champions Trophy started.
24th Feb - Pakistan eliminated.

PAKISTAN HOSTING AN ICC EVENT AFTER 29 YEARS ARE KNOCKED OUT IN 5 DAYS. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/daScqVVhLB

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 24, 2025

ALSO SEE: Shane Watson Creates History with First Ever Century in IMLT20

A Forgettable Campaign
Pakistan's on-field performance only contributed to the letdown. Their tournament lasted a mere five days before they were eliminated, and they became the first team to be eliminated from the competition. There were high hopes, but the team was unable to deliver when it counted the most.

A Tough Pill to Swallow
For a nation that has long been denied the honour of hosting international cricket, the event was meant to be a celebration. It turned into tragedy as it came to an end, Pakistan failing miserably in record time. As followers look back upon this calamitous campaign, one thing is certain—the vision of a successful ICC event on home soil will have to wait a bit longer.

It was a clinical finish from India which would be a tricky chase, Thanks to the modern great Virat Kohli who kept one end steady to ensure India finished the match as quickly as possible. It all started 8 years ago when India faced their arch-rival Pakistan in a clutch final of Champions Trophy 2017.
 Pakistan batted first it was not just batting it was a thunderstorm in the form of Fakhar Zaman which just blew away India on the eve of the final where he scored a brilliant 150 Pakistan gave the target of 338 runs which seemed too much for Indian batters where they were all out in 158 which gave Pakistan a commanding win of 180 runs. 
Read More: Chahal And Dhanashree Parted Ways Posting Cryptic Messages
Slow On Run Rate
After 8 years of endurance, the rivalry ignited which stipulated whether India would seek their revenge or Pakistan would stamp their authority once again. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first it all started well with Pakistan though they lost their main man Babar Azam. Still, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel made a resistant partnership to control the innings. 
They were going well but were slow on rate they were 152/2 at 35 overs but soon everything changed completely, they lost the plot and a hefty collapse happened which changed the course of the game. Rizwan scored 44 runs out of 77 balls hitting only 3 boundaries and Shakeel scored 62 runs after their dismissal whole team bundled into a pack of cards adding on just 89 runs. 
Read More: Its India Vs Pakistan The Greatest Rivalry Of Cricketing Nations
The Tricky Chase
India got the target of 242 runs to win the epic encounter where Rohit Sharma started the innings explosively but couldn't hold onto more. Then came the main man Kohli for the chase who else better than him to join the party. He and Subhman Gill held on to the game they persisted and made control over the chase. But another unexpected thing happened when Subhman Gill got out on 46 runs. 
At the same point where Pakistan was losing the plot same thing was replicated by the Indian batsmen too. Still, Shreyas made a good half-century plotting with Kohli once Shreyas was gone with him Hardik PandayPandyaeparted but till then the chase was in control when Kohli himself took charge and finished the match with his 51 century and scoring 14000 runs in the ODI occupying less number of innings. 

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is always heated, but this time it wasn't the match alone that was in the limelight andit was the commentary.

Sarfaraz : "Riwaz allah ka jap kar rahe hain"

Aakash Chopra : "Rohit Mahamrityunjay kar rahe hain"

Raina: "Virat Mahadev Bhakt hain and Abhi Mahashivratri bhi hain"

We got Mahadev vs Allah in commentary 😭 #INDvsPAK

— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) February 23, 2025

Short Video of this -pic.twitter.com/bA3Ni12GKT

— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) February 23, 2025

ALSO SEE: Watch: Hardik Pandya celebration after dismissing Babar Azam

During the match, Sarfaraz Ahmed said, "Riwaz Allah ka jap kar rahe hain," meaning religious rituals. Aakash Chopra retorted with, "Rohit Mahamrityunjay kar rahe hain," associating it with Hindu prayers. Suresh Raina then joined in, "Virat Mahadev Bhakt hain and abhi Mahashivratri bhi hain."

The conversation quickly went viral, with fans reacting in different ways. Some saw it as a fun and unique moment, while others felt that cricket commentary should stay focused on the game.

Social media has been buzzing with debates—should religious references be a part of sports commentary, or should broadcasters avoid them altogether?

What’s your take on this?

The match between India VS Pakistan is one of the most thrilling game that people around the globe love to watch. Both teams have a great rivalry such that each game becomes suspenseful and much-awaited. Below are the specifications of how to watch the game live.

• Match: IND VS PAK
• Date: February 23th, 2025
• Time:  2:30 PM IST
• Toss:2:00
• Venue: Dubai

LIVE STREAMING DETAILS

Key Players to Watch

• India: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Gill
• Pakistan: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan

ALSO READ:PAK vs IND Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 05, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

India probably playing xi:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami

Pakistan probable playing Xi

Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salmam Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khusdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

The cricketing world is waiting with bated breath for the India vs Pakistan encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This electrifying encounter will be held in Dubai, where both teams will be looking to win. Below is the forecasted playing XI for both teams, along with some important insights into the match.

Match Details

•  Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025
•  Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
•  Match Time: 2:30 PM IST
•  Toss Time: 2:00 PM IST

India’s Predicted Playing XI

1. Rohit Sharma (Captain): An experienced opener who can provide a strong start.
2. Shubman Gill: A talented young batsman with solid technique.
3. Virat Kohli: One of the best batsmen in the world, known for his consistency.
4. Shreyas Iyer: A dependable middle-order batsman.
5. KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper): A reliable batsman and wicketkeeper.
6. Hardik Pandya: A key all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.
7. Ravindra Jadeja: A left-arm all-rounder with great fielding skills.
8. Axar Patel: A useful spin-bowling all-rounder.
9. Kuldeep Yadav: A wrist-spinner who can take crucial wickets.
10. Mohammed Shami: An experienced fast bowler with good pace and accuracy.
11. Arshdeep Singh: A promising left-arm fast bowler.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

ALSO READ:PAK vs IND Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 05, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

Pakistan’s Predicted Playing XI

1. Babar Azam: The star batsman and leader of the team.
2. Imam-ul-Haq: A consistent top-order batsman.
3. Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & Wicketkeeper): A dependable wicketkeeper-batsman.
4. Salman Agha: A talented middle-order batsman.
5. Kamran Ghulam: A promising batsman in Pakistan’s setup.
6. Tayyab Tahir : A strong middle-order player.
7. Khushdil Shah: A power-hitter who can accelerate the innings.
8. Shaheen Afridi: Pakistan’s pace spearhead.
9. Naseem Shah: A young and talented fast bowler.
10. Haris Rauf: A key fast bowler with express pace.
11. Abrar Ahmed: A skilled leg-spinner.

Pakistan: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips is outstanding in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against the hosts and defending champions Pakistan. After scoring valuable runs with the bat to guide the Blackcaps to a strong total at the National Stadium in Karachi, Phillips took a stunner to dismiss Pakistan in-form captain Mohammad Rizwan in early of the innings. 

After asking the visitors to bat first, hosts Pakistan have got a big target of 321 runs in the tournament opener, where the pitch wasn't smooth enough for the batters. Chasing down the big target, Pakistan openers failed to provide strong start. As Fakhar Zaman couldn't bat for the first 25 minutes of the innings due to his absent in the first innings after an injury. 

See Also: ICC Champions Trophy is also very important for us: Rohit Sharma

Glenn Phillips stunner removed Mohammad Rizwan

At the end of the first powerplay, Pakistan only managed to score 22 runs and they lost two wickets, including the skipper Mohammad Rizwan's wicket on the last ball of the 10th over. It was a short and wide delivery from the in-form Blackcaps pacer Will O’Rourke, Rizwan went for a cut short which travelled over the backward point, and Glenn Phillips grabbed that chance spectacularly to purchase an important wicket for his team. Rizwan only managed to score three runs off 14 balls. 

THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD 😲

Glenn Phillips with an absolute Stunner to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan UNBELIEVABLE pic.twitter.com/9av4IThlag

— Sports Production (@SSpotlight71) February 19, 2025

Glenn Phillips scored valuable 61 off 39 balls

Earlier in the first innings of the match, opener Will Young and the no.4 batter set the tone of the innings, which resulted in twin centuries from them. However, Glenn Phillips became the crucial difference between the teams by slamming 61 runs off 39 balls with the help of three fours and four sixes. Although he scored 17 off the first 21 balls, that cautious start paid him off at the end. He later, delivered with the fielding and bowling. Apart from the stunning catch, Phillips also saved many runs with his outstanding fielding. 

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is about to start, and the match today is a thrilling encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand. The match will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi and is all set to begin at 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time). Cricket enthusiasts around the globe are waiting for the live match to be viewed through different TV channels and online streaming websites.

• Match : NZ VS PAK
• Date: February 19th, 2025
• Time:  2:30 PM IST
• Venue: Karachi

LIVE STREAMING DETAILS

ALSO READ: PAK vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 01, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

NEW ZEALAND

Rachin Ravindra/ Will Young, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will O Rourke, Matt Henry

PAKISTAN

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khusdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed