Pakistani, Indian gamers line up earlier than Asia Cup match in Dubai, UAE on August 28, 2022. — ReutersMatch will likely be performed at Dubai Cricket Stadium.Pakistan-India conflict will begin at 7:30pm PST.Police warn in opposition to unruly behaviour forward of match.
Dubai is ready to host certainly one of cricket’s most intense rivalries in the present day (Sunday) as Pakistan tackle arch-rival India within the Asia Cup 2025 conflict.
Pakistan-India cricket match is all the time a blockbuster, however feelings will run even increased in in the present day’s conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a four-day navy battle earlier this yr.
The match will likely be performed at Dubai Cricket Stadium and can start at 7:30pm PST.
The bilateral cricket ties between the 2 nations have been suspended for fairly a while. 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.
Within the ongoing match, the 2 Asian cricketing giants have been clubbed collectively in the identical group and will probably meet thrice within the match, which concludes on September 28.
India, the reigning 20-over world champions, are agency favourites to retain their Asia Cup title and are decided to not let geopolitics derail their marketing campaign.
“Once the BCCI said they are aligned with the government, we are here to play,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak instructed reporters on Friday. “Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think they have anything in mind apart from playing cricket and that’s what we focus on”.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson additionally needs his workforce to remain centered, although the importance of the match just isn’t misplaced on him.
“Being part of a highly-charged event is going to be exciting,” the New Zealander stated this week. “From my perspective […] it’s about maintaining everyone centered on the job at hand. That will likely be no totally different.
“We know India are obviously hugely confident and rightfully so. But we are very much focused on improving as a team day-by-day and not getting ahead of ourselves.”
India seem by far the strongest aspect within the eight-team match, having strengthened themselves with the number of tempo spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and prime order batter Shubman Gill.
They had been ruthless of their nine-wicket demolition of the United Arab Emirates, whom they routed for 57 in 13.1 overs earlier than returning to chase down the goal in 27 balls on Thursday.
Pakistan additionally opened their account with a simple victory in opposition to Oman however their batting has been relatively inconsistent.
Pakistan are with out former skippers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan however will take coronary heart from successful a T20 tri-series in UAE, additionally involving Afghanistan, earlier than heading into the Asia Cup.
“We have been playing good cricket in the last two-three months and we just have to play good cricket,” Pakistan captain Salman stated on Friday.
Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
India squad:Â Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
— With further enter from Reuters, AFP
