"Pakistan not in the same league as India," says Manjrekar

The upcoming India-Pakistan match carries significant stakes, as a defeat for hosts Pakistan would eliminate their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage, following their opening loss to New Zealand in Karachi.

However, former India cricketer and current commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes the contest may be one-sided, stating that Pakistan lacks the firepower to challenge an in-form Indian team.

"Pakistan is not in India's league. India has dominated them consistently in recent times, and this time, Pakistan looks even weaker. However, that does not take away from the excitement of the contest," Manjrekar commented in Hindi during the Afghanistan-South Africa match.

Highlighting Pakistan’s bowling limitations, he pointed out that they have only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, while relying on part-timers like Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, which may not be enough to trouble India’s batting lineup. He also suggested that Pakistan’s pace attack might not have much impact in these conditions.

In contrast, India started their campaign with a commanding six-wicket victory over Bangladesh, and a win against Pakistan would secure their spot in the semifinals.