Tag: India vs Pakistan

Kandy is buzzing from the heat, despite rain prediction, of arguably the greatest sports rivalry between two Asian giants India and Pakistan, who are set to lock horns today in the third match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.

This rivalry and the game of cricket have evolved massively across decades and have created many stars in both countries, who etched their names in the history books with performances in this storied rivalry.

Asia Cup is an important chapter in this rivalry, where the Asian powerhouses squared off against each other 13 times in the ODI format. India has an edge with seven victories, while Pakistan have come out on top in five games.

Overall, Pakistan and India have faced each other in 132 ODI matches. Pakistan have come out victorious on 73 occasions, whereas India triumphed in 55 matches.

However, barring the famous Champions Trophy final victory in 2017 under the inspired leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan have failed in four of their last five ODI games against India.

The upcoming Asia Cup clash is going to be the first time these two Asian powerhouses face each other in the ODI format since their 2019 ODI World Cup match in England. Current Indian captain Rohit Sharma guided Men in Blue to the victory over Pakistan, as he played a blistering 140-run knock off 113 balls.

Although India and Pakistan faced each other twice in last year’s Asia Cup, and both teams won one game each, however, last year’s Asia Cup was played in T20I format, as the tournament is played on a rotation between ODI and T20I formats, based on the format of upcoming ICC event.

Pakistan kicked off their Asia Cup 2023 campaign with a dominating 238-run victory over the debutant Nepal in the opening game of the tournament.

Captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed scored centuries, gaining much-needed momentum going into the high-octane match against India. However, Pakistani opening batter Fakhar Zaman’s form is a major concern for the team.

Since his undefeated 180 against New Zealand in April, he has only managed to score a mere 139 runs in seven innings, including the recently concluded ODI series against Afghanistan where he scored 59 runs in three matches.

Although Iftikhar Ahmed set the stage on fire against an inexperienced Nepali side, Pakistan’s middle order’s inconsistency is a big woe for the team. Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, and Iftikhar Ahmed have all struggled greatly in recent times.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam’s weakness against wrist spinners is also alarming, with Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav having an excellent record against the Pakistani captain.

Babar Azam faced Kuldeep Yadav in three ODI games and managed to score only 18 runs, while Kuldeep got him out twice.

[totalpoll id=”253110″]

On the other hand, India are facing a team combination conundrum, paired up with injury woes as KL Rahul got ruled out of the first two games of the Asia Cup. He is likely to be replaced by wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan.

Ishan Kishan scored three half-centuries at the top of the order in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies.

However, Indian management rested senior players in the series and tested different combinations. Despite Kishan’s performances, captain Rohit Sharma is expected to return to his usual spot at the top of the order with Shubman Gill as his partner leaving Ishan Kishan to adjust himself in the middle order.

Suryakumar Yadav has been a force to be reckoned with in T20Is, but he failed to replicate his T20I exploits in ODIs, scoring 511 runs in 24 innings at a subpar average of 24.33. Even at his best in T20Is, he failed against Pakistan’s pace attack scoring only 57 runs in four outings.

Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, is arguably the most feared bowling trio in the world and they have all shown their brilliance against the Indian side in T20Is.

With their current form, it is expected to be an enthralling battle between Pakistan pacers and the Indian top order featuring Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Records suggest that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma enjoy batting against Pakistan. Virat Kohli averages 48.72 in 13 games, including a match-winning 183 in Asia Cup 2012 match at Mirpur, while, Sharma averages 51.42 in 16 games. Both have registered two centuries each against the arch-rivals.

Nonetheless, it is expected to be a great competition between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, two of the greatest batters of modern times. Babar Azam is currently sitting at the top of the ODI batting ranking, the position which was once held by Virat Kohli.

Indian bowling line is bolstered by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who recently made his comeback from injury in the T20I series against Ireland and made an immediate impact with a man-of-the-match performance in the first game. However, his match fitness for the ODI match will be tested against Pakistan in Sri Lankan conditions.

Before taking the field in the much-anticipated clash both teams have played 12 ODIs in the ongoing year and lost only three out of them.

FORM GUIDE:

PAKISTAN — W,W,W,W,L (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
INDIA — W,L,W,L,L

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Asia Cup ODI: Matches-13, India-7, Pakistan-5, NR-1

READ: Pakistan’s Playing XI for Asia Cup 2023 India clash unveiled

KANDY: Cricket fans’ quest to see arch-rivals Pakistan and India going face to face after four years in ODI format on Saturday might get unsettled as dark clouds loom with rain likely to spoilsport in the anticipated Asia Cup 2023 clash.

According to BBC Weather, there is a very high chance of showers, as much as 80 per cent, here on Saturday, September 2.

Moreover, the BBC weather forecasts persistent and heavy rainfall throughout Saturday, meaning that the anticipated clash between arch-rivals could get washed out.

If the game gets washed out there is no reserved day for the match and thus both teams will split the points.

Notably, severe gusts are expected during the match, which may have an impact on the playing conditions and general atmosphere.

Moreover, the temperatures will range between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius during the game.

The Asia Cup 2023 group-stage clash between Pakistan and India will mark Pakistan and India’s first faceoff in the ODI format since the 2019 World Cup, where the Men in Blue emerged triumphant.

However, if the high-octane clash between Pakistan gets washed out on Saturday, cricket fans may get to witness the biggest rivalry of the sport again if the two teams manage to make it to the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside Nepal while Group B features Afghanistan, Bangladesh and defending champions Sri Lanka.

Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

READ: Sri Lanka edge Bangladesh to script winning start to Asia Cup defence

MONG KOK: The much-anticipated clash of the ongoing ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 between Pakistan and India has been abandoned due to persistent rain here.

The high-voltage Group A clash of the Emerging Asia Cup was abandoned without a ball bowled as the two arch-rivals settled for a point each.

After the washout, both Pakistan and India now have four points after playing three matches but the latter were on top of the standings courtesy of a superior net run-rate.

Earlier, Pakistan’s second Emerging Asia Cup fixture against hosts Hong Kong was also washed out due to persistent rainfall.

With the group stage of the tournament coming to its closure, the action will now shift to the semi-finals, scheduled to take place on Monday (June 19).

Pakistan A will take on Bangladesh A while India A will lock horns with Sri Lanka A in the semi-finals.

In their first match of the tournament, spinners led by Syeda Aroob Shah and Tuba Hassan helped Pakistan successfully defend a low total against Nepal at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest 88-run target, leg-spinners Aroob and Tuba never allowed the opposing batters to settle and picked up wickets regularly.

The duo ended up taking two wickets apiece, while off-spinner Umm-e-Hani and left-arm spinner Anoosha Nasir snapped a wicket each to give Pakistan a nine-run win.

For Nepal, Kabita Kunwar (20, 32b, 2x4s) and Kabita Joshi (15 not out, 17b, 1×4) were the only batters to enter into double figures.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan A were bowled out for 87 in 19.2 overs. Opening batter Shawaal Zulfiqar top-scored for her side with a 36-ball 28, hitting one four.

For Nepal, Indu Barma was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for six runs from three overs. Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar and Sita Rana Magar bagged two wickets apiece.

It is worth mentioning here that the final of the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup will be played on Wednesday (June 21).

READ: Adil Rashid, Sam Curran recognized in the King’s Birthday Honours 

India’s star batter Virat Kohli drew a comparison between the biggest rivalry in cricket – India versus Pakistan – and the recently-held FA Cup final, asserting the former to be louder.

Virat Kohli with her wife Anushka Sharma watched the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium between Manchester City and Manchester United and cheered for the Premier League winner.

Their team carried on their brilliant form to outclass United 3-2 and clinched the FA Cup title.

Following the conclusion of the action-filled final, Virat Kohli, in a video statement released by Manchester City, shared his thoughts on the experience and the electrifying atmosphere at the stadium.

“The atmosphere during India’s premier matches clashes, like with Pakistan, is similar to what fans experience during the football games here [in the UK],” said Virat Kohli.

“India versus Pakistan during a World Cup would be louder, but the passion and support of fans here is incredible to watch,” he added.

Virat Kohli further revealed that he closely follows City matches closely, especially after his interaction with the club’s manager Pep Guardiola.

“Watching Manchester City play is a great thing because I follow the team pretty closely ever since I had a chat with Pep to understand his mindset,” Kohli concluded.

It is worth mentioning here that Manchester City, fresh with two title-winning victories, will lock horns with Inter Milan in the final of the UEFA Champions League on June 10.

Meanwhile, start Indian batter Virat Kohli will turn up for India in the World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord’s, scheduled to commence on June 7.

Kohli took a break from India’s scheduled training session for the WTC Final to attend the highly-anticipated FA Cup final.

READ: Babar Azam nominated for ICC Player of the Month for May 2023

Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Management Committee Najam Sethi has confirmed that Pakistan will not play their 2023 World Cup matches in India if BCCI does not allow their team to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup.

Amid the ongoing tussle between the two cricket boards over the hosting of the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, Sethi stated that PCB had presented a hybrid model keeping in mind India’s reservation over travelling to Pakistan.

However, he said, the same model would also be applied to the World Cup 2023 and Champions Trophy 2025.

“Our government will not allow us to play World Cup in India because their government stopped BCCI to send their team to Pakistan for Asia Cup,” he said in an interview with an Indian sports channel on Thursday.

Sethi revealed that he recently held a few meetings with an ACC representative in Dubai and proposed another hybrid model for the tournament since the earlier model was rejected by India.

“Hybrid model is a compromise but we are ready for it. We have offered to hold Asia Cup in two phases. In the first stage, four teams other than India will come to Pakistan. After that, we all will go to a neutral venue to play the rest of the matches including the final,” he explained.

“If the hybrid model is accepted for Asia Cup, then this will apply to World Cup too. We will play our matches during World Cup in Bangladesh or somewhere else.”

“Also, Champions Trophy 2025 will adopt the same model. It will make things simple for everyone. Meanwhile, if at any stage India agree to come to Pakistan, then we will also go to play World Cup there,” added the PCB head.

Moreover, he also hit out at Sri Lanka and Bangladesh boards for changing their stance on the hybrid model, warning Pakistan will back out of the Asia Cup if the tournament is completely shifted from Pakistan.

“BCCI secretary Jay Shah had asked in ACC meeting in Bahrain whether someone has a problem with touring Pakistan and no one said anything,” Sethi revealed.

“I think Sri Lankan Cricket Board want their country to be a neutral venue and we are ready to discuss it only if they accept the hybrid model” he added.

READ: Pakistan pip India at No.2 in ODI team rankings annual update

India star batter Virat Kohli recalled one of the most memorable knocks of his career when he singlehandedly took India to a sensational win against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup match last year. 

Speaking at a corporate event, Kohli was asked to explain his feelings during the blockbuster clash in Melbourne and he confessed that he was still in disbelief at what had truly unfolded that night.

“I still can’t make any sense of it. That’s a very honest admission. And a lot of people have tried to ask me what were you thinking, how did you plan and I have no answers. The fact of the matter is that I was so much under pressure that my mind had shut off completely by the 12th or 13th over.” he said.

The right-hander made an unbeaten 82 from 53 in the nerve-wracking game against arch-rivals which went down to the wires as India sealed a four-wicket win on the final ball in front of jam-packed MCG stadium.

Pakistan’s brilliant pace attack had kept India at bay at the start as they were reduced to 31 for 4 in 6.1 overs while chasing 160 before Kohli and Hardik Pandya gathered a match-winning 113-run stand.

Kohli struggled greatly early on, failing to find the gaps but as the game proceeded, he showcased his temperament and outstanding prowess to snatch the victory from Pakistan’s hands.

“At the 10th over mark, we were 31 for 4 and I had just ran Axar out. I was 12 off 25, or something. I remember in the break, Rahul bhai came to me and I don’t remember what he said. I swear and I even told him this as well. I told him, ‘I have no idea what you told me in that break because I was zoned out’,” he said.

“My mind was spinning so fast…I was like this is worse than it was before. I had spiralled down so far down that there is no comeback from here and that was my honest feeling at the halfway mark.

That is when my instinct took over. So when I stopped thinking and planning, whatever God-given talent I have that came to the surface and then I felt like something higher was guiding me.” he added.

“What happened that night, I can never explain it and it won’t happen ever again,” he concluded.

READ: Man City condemn attack on Liverpool team bus

DUBAI: The long-running conflict between Pakistan and India regarding their participation in this year’s Asia Cup and Men’s ODI World Cup will take centre stage in the International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting this weekend.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup and Pakistan’s participation in the Men’s ODI World Cup has been in jeopardy after the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) refused to tour Pakistan for the aforementioned tournament on political grounds.

The BCCI has maintained their stance of not touring Pakistan for the Asia Cup, while the PCB is adamant that if they do not, then Pakistan might not travel to India for the World Cup in October-November.

Meanwhile, the first quarterly meeting of the year got underway on Thursday with the women’s cricket committee and continued on Friday with the men’s committee.

Yet the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting on Saturday will be the focus of attention before the ICC Board and Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee convene on Sunday and Monday as one of the most pressing topics – the prevailing deadlock between Pakistan and India – will be under discussion.

The chairman of the PCB management committee Najam Sethi is likely to raise Pakistan’s concerns about India’s hesitance in touring their country as the nation is poised to host ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 apart from this year’s Asia Cup.

“We have complex issues on hand but for me when I go to the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) and ICC meetings I have kept all options open for us and we have to take a clear position now,” said Sethi at a press conference earlier this week.

“There are two different matters, one is of ICC and the other is of ACC. This is not only about Asia Cup because we also have to host the Champions Trophy. I will go and talk with both ICC and ACC on this matter,” he added.

However, the final decision regarding Pakistan’s participation in ODI World Cup in India will be taken by the government, Sethi confirmed on Monday.

“I have approached our government to take their point of view on this matter. If our patron [PM Shehbaz Sharif] asks us to go and play World Cup in India regardless of whether they come here to play Asia Cup or not, we will have to consider it,” he said.

READ: Real face Chelsea in Champions League quarters, Man City meet Bayern

CAPE TOWN: Right-handed Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues struck a gritty half-century in the tricky run chase against arch-rivals Pakistan and steered her side to a thrilling seven-wicket victory in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup.

Set to chase 151, India amassed 151/3 in the 19th over at the back of a crucial knock by Rodrigues, who scored an unbeaten 53 off just 38 deliveries.

The right-handed batter top-scored for her side with a magnificent knock that featured eight boundaries.

Earlier, opening batter Shafali Verma (33) also laid a solid foundation for the run chase as she put on two vital partnerships before finally falling in the 10th over.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stayed briefly at the crease as she could score 16 before falling victim to Nashra Sandhu.

Following Kaur’s dismissal, Richa Ghosh joined Rodrigues and added an unbeaten 58-run match-winning partnership. Ghosh remained unbeaten with a brisk 31 off just 20 balls including five boundaries.

For Pakistan, Sandhu led the bowling with 2/15 in her four overs while Sadia Iqbal could make one scalp. 

After opting to bat first, the Green Shirts were off to a rather shaky start as experienced opener Javeria Khan (8) fell in the second over as Deepti Sharma provided the first breakthrough for India.

Following the early slump, skipper Bismah stitched a gritty 32-run partnership with young opener Muneeba Ali before Radha Yadav broke the budding partnership by removing the latter for just 12.

Pakistan then found themselves in deep trouble when their in-form all-rounder Nida Dar perished for a duck in the next over before Sidra Ameen departed for a mere 11 after a brief fourth-wicket partnership with Bismah.

Hard-hitting batter Ayesha then turned the tables on the disciplined Indian bowling attack as she struck a quickfire 43 off just 25 deliveries and bolstered Pakistan to a competitive total.

The right-handed batter struck two sixes and as many fours in her unbeaten crucial innings.

Whereas, Bismah too, carried her bat till the end as she scored 68 not out off 55 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.

Radha led the bowling attack for India with two wickets, while Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar made one scalp each.

READ: Pakistan thump India to win 21st Asian Junior Squash Championship

CAPE TOWN: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against arch-rivals India in the much-awaited clash of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

PAKISTAN: Bismah Maroof (c), Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali, Nida Dar, Ayesha Naseem, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Sidra Amin, Aiman Anwer, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.

INDIA: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodiguez, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh.

HEAD TO HEAD (WT20Is):

Matches-13, India-10, Pakistan-3

KARACHI: Pakistan pacer Sohail Khan made a major assertion regarding his heated encounter with India’s star batter Virat Kohli during the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia.

When arch-rivals Pakistan and India squared off against each other in the 2015 World Cup, Indian batters dominated Pakistan’s strong pace attack as they raised 300/7 at the back of Kohli’s magnificent 107.

Despite a struggling outing, Sohail was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan who bagged a five-wicket haul and leaked 55 runs in his 10-over spell. The right-arm pacer also dismissed centurion Kohli.

In the much-anticipated clash between two Asian giants, Sohail and Kohli got into a heated verbal exchange when the former came out to bat with Pakistan on the verge of defeat.

Sohail, during an interview with a prominent Youtuber’s podcast, reflected upon his heated exchange with Kohli and claimed that he schooled him for good.

“Virat Kohli came to me and told me I talk too much despite being a newcomer to the team. I told him ‘son, when you were playing for India U19, I was playing Test cricket for Pakistan’. I have been playing Tests for Pakistan since 2006, and then I got injured,” shared Sohail.

The right-arm pacer also claimed that then-Indian captain MS Dhoni also told Kohli to back off by terming Sohail an old bloke.

“That’s how I said it. Then if you see carefully, Misbah intervened and he got angry at me. He asked me to keep quiet. Then MS Dhoni also came and told Kohli to back off. He’s an old bloke, you don’t know him,” shared Sohail.

It is pertinent to mention that Sohail represented Pakistan in nine Tests, 13 ODIs and five T20Is. The right-arm pacer picked up 51 wickets over the course of his international career.