Form and bragging rights are on the line as giants clash in the Asia Cup. Virat Kohli of India has the opportunity to regain form before the World Cup. While Babar Azam of Pakistan will look to maintain Pakistan’s psychological edge. When the rival countries clash as the Asia Cup’s headline acts.
Virat Kohli of India has the opportunity to regain form before the World Cup. While Babar Azam of Pakistan will look to maintain Pakistan’s psychological edge. When the rival countries clash as the headline acts of the Asia Cup, which begins this weekend. India and Pakistan could face each other three times during the two-week T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates. The six-nation tournament relocated from Sri Lanka due to political unrest. It is especially important this year because the T20 World Cup in Australia is quickly approaching, in October and November.
Sri Lanka takes on Afghanistan in the first match on Saturday. All eyes will be on India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
India will be looking to avenge a 10-wicket loss to Pakistan at the same venue in last year’s T20 World Cup. Skipper Rohit Sharma is trying to keep his players calm as fan expectations and excitement mount.
“Everyone watches the game, and it’s a high-pressure game without a doubt,” he told Star Sports. “Within the group, we want to create a normal atmosphere.”
“We don’t want to overhype this game. It’s critical to remind players who haven’t faced Pakistan or have only faced them once or twice that they’re just another opponent.”
India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, has Covid, and India appointed former batter VVS Laxman as interim coach late on Wednesday.
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The match will be Kohli’s 100th T20I. A chance for the batting legend to break out of his extended slump ahead of the World Cup.
The 33-year-old has not scored a century in any format since 2019, but he should be in better shape after resting for tours to the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Kohli, who has 27 centuries in 102 Tests, was replaced as all-format captain earlier this year by Rohit.
Pakistan’s fortunes will be largely determined by Azam, who is coming off two big half-centuries in his team’s 3-0 ODI sweep of the Netherlands.
Azam, 27, leads the world T20 and ODI batting rankings after scoring an unbeaten 68 against India last year.
Pakistan has brought in pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain to replace Shaheen Shah Afridi, India’s T20 destroyer last year, who is out due to a knee injury.
Defending champions India and Pakistan will be joined in Group A by Hong Kong, which defeated the UAE in the final qualifier on Wednesday.
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Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super 4 stage, where India and Pakistan may face off again.
If both reach the September 11 final, the two great rivals could meet for the third time.
Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, may spoil the India-Pakistan party.
They are capable of reaching the final after recent home series success against the backdrop of a dire economic crisis.
Victory would bring some much-needed joy to the cricket-crazed island nation, which has been ravaged in recent months by food and fuel shortages, as well as rolling blackouts.
Afghanistan has the ability to upset any team, with their ace being leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of the world’s top T20 bowlers who can exploit and turn in the UAE’s subcontinent-like pitches.
Bangladesh have been boosted by the return of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to lead the team.
Who stated that his priority was to see an improvement in the struggling side’s performances as the World Cup approaches.
Victory would bring some much-needed joy to the cricket-crazed island nation, which has been ravaged in recent months by food and fuel shortages, as well as rolling blackouts.
Afghanistan has the ability to upset any team, with their ace being leg-spinner Rashid Khan, one of the world’s top T20 bowlers who can exploit and turn in the UAE’s subcontinent-like pitches.
Bangladesh have been boosted by the return of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to lead the team, who stated that his priority was to see an improvement in the struggling side’s performances as the World Cup approaches.
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