Pakistan with 'nothing to lose': Sarfraz

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed believes his side will "have nothing to lose" in the Champions Trophy as they eye their first 50-over match against arch-rivals India in more than two years.

In Sarfraz's first major assignment at the helm of the one-day international team, Pakistan begin their campaign against India at Edgbaston on June 4 in arguably the most-anticipated match of the tournament.

The two sides, whose meetings in international cricket have been almost entirely limited to major tournaments due to political tensions, last met in an ODI at the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

In a sold-out match at Adelaide Oval, a Virat Kohli century led India to a 76-run win over Pakistan. 

And while Sarfraz admits he's well aware of the hype surrounding Pakistan's opportunity for revenge, Saturday's warm-up match against Bangladesh in Birmingham remains their immediate focus.

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"We are very hopeful about the India match but our aim is to first perform well in our opening practice match as a team unit," the aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman told reporters at Edgbaston. 

"Obviously, performing against India is important because the whole nation is expecting us to win against them, so we will give our full 100 per cent in the ground.

"We will try our fullest to be seen fighting. All players (are) giving their heart out in each and every department of the game and when we're together giving our best and keeping our focus, result will surely come good."

Despite completing series wins in all formats during their recent tour of the West Indies, Pakistan have not been spoken of as one of the favourites to win the tournament, which features the world's top eight ODI teams.

But an undaunted Sarfraz implored his side to play without fear. 

"We have nothing to lose, we just want to play our natural game," the 30-year-old said. "We are very hopeful of playing well in this tournament and we want to win it."

"Against the West Indies, we had a big fielding improvement

"We don't see us as having a surprise element, we want to come here and play free cricket, starting against India.

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"This is my first major tournament as captain, I'm definitely very hopeful and excited about the competition. 

"My aim is to play my own game, to not play under pressure and to just play as I do in domestic cricket."