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,

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.

Will it be a grudge game for Pakistan? India refused to travel across the border as the government didn't give the go-ahead due to security reasons, and the Pakistan Cricket Board eventually had to accept a hybrid model.