Cricket followers, with their faces painted within the Pakistan’s and India’s flag colors, pose for an image forward of the primary match between Pakistan and India. — Reuters/FilePakistan final confronted India in Champions Trophy in February.Arch-rivals will conflict once more in Dubai on September 14.Asia Cup to function build-up in the direction of T20I World Cup in 2026.
NEW DELHI: A blockbuster between Pakistan and India headlines the Asia Cup beginning on Tuesday as they face off for the primary time in cricket for the reason that army battle in Might.
Together with regional bragging rights, the T20I competitors will function a build-up in the direction of the T20I World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka.
The eight-team occasion within the United Arab Emirates begins when Afghanistan play minnows Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan conflict in Dubai on September 14, with Pakistan bowling nice Wasim Akram saying gamers and followers from each groups ought to “remain disciplined and not cross the line”.
The neighbours haven’t met on both aspect’s soil in a bilateral sequence since 2012 and solely play one another in worldwide tournaments on impartial floor as a part of a compromise deal.
The 2 Asian cricketing giants have been clubbed collectively in the identical group and will probably meet 3 times within the match, which concludes on September 28.
There have been tensions within the build-up after the 2 nations fought an intense four-day battle — their worst since 1999.
The hostilities in Might left greater than 70 individuals lifeless in missile, drone and artillery exchanges, earlier than a ceasefire was reached finally.
With lingering bitterness, an Indian workforce of retired gamers withdrew from their semi-final with Pakistan within the World Championship of Legends in July-August in England.
Led by former worldwide Yuvraj Singh, the Indians additionally refused to play Pakistan within the group stage of the match, as clamour grew amongst followers to boycott the video games.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh was a part of the veterans workforce and has strongly opposed the Asia Cup sport.
“It cannot be the case that there’s fighting on the border, tensions between the two nations, and we go to play cricket. Until these big issues are resolved, cricket is a very small matter,” Harbhajan advised The Instances of India.
Sturdy favourites
Pakistan and India final met in cricket, once more in Dubai, in February within the 50-over Champions Trophy, with India profitable by six wickets and happening to raise the title.
They’re additionally defending Asia Cup champions and led by Suryakumar Yadav, are favourites in opposition to their previous foes with a 10-3 win report in opposition to Pakistan in T20Is.
Pakistan might be with out star gamers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, each dropped from the shortest format due to poor kind.
India received the earlier Asia Cup, which was performed in a 50-over format in 2023, after they beat hosts Sri Lanka within the ultimate in Colombo. India are robust favourites to retain their crown.
The 5 full members of the Asian Cricket Council — Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — earned computerized qualification to the match.
They’re joined by Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE, groups that secured their spots by ending within the prime three of the ACC males’s Premier Cup.
Group A is made up of India, Pakistan, the hosts UAE and Oman.
Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.
The group stage might be adopted by a Tremendous 4 spherical, adopted by the ultimate in Dubai.
