In a highly anticipated Asia Cup clash, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first at the iconic Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. This match carries an added layer of intensity, as it is the first time the two nations are facing each other in a major tournament since a military conflict earlier this year.
Bilateral cricket ties had been suspended even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war. The arch-rivals now only play against each other in multi-team tournaments.
India’s Strength and Pakistan’s Hopes
India, the reigning world champions in the 20-over format, are strong favorites to retain their Asia Cup title. They are determined not to let geopolitics derail their campaign. With the return of key players like pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and top-order batter Shubman Gill, India appears to be the strongest side in the eight-team tournament. They showcased their dominance against the United Arab Emirates, routing them for just 57 runs and chasing the target in a mere 27 balls without losing a wicket.
Pakistan also started their campaign with a comfortable victory against Oman, but their batting has been inconsistent. While they are missing former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, their confidence is high after winning a T20 tri-series in the UAE before the Asia Cup.
Squads and Statistics
Playing XIs:
- Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed.
- India: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah.
Head-to-head Record: In 13 T20I matches, India has a dominant record with 10 victories, while Pakistan has emerged victorious on three occasions. However, at this specific venue in Dubai, Pakistan has the upper hand with two wins in their last three meetings, including their historic victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
Form Guide: Both teams are in good form, with only one defeat in their last five completed T20Is.
- Pakistan: W, W, W, L, W (most recent first)
- India: W, W, W, L, W (most recent first)
