Any India-Pakistan encounter is easily the biggest event in World cricket which brings massive ratings and crowd. An India-Pakistan game sells itself. And the cricket fans will be treated with at least two Indo-Pak matches in the upcoming Asia Cup.
If the two teams do well, we might even see a first-ever India-Pakistan final in the biggest event in Asia. In all likelihood, the two teams will face each other thrice as they are the favourites to win the event.
We’ll try to approach it like any other match: Babar Azam on India Pakistan game
India and Pakistan start their Asia Cup 2022 campaigns by facing each other on August 28 in Dubai. When Pakistan captain Babar Azam was asked about the same and the pressure it will bring in a press conference, he gave a classy response.
Dekhe pressure kuch nahi hai. Koshish yahi hoti hai ki match ko match k tarha hi khele. (We’ll try to approach it like any other match),” Babar Azam said when a journalist asked if Pakistan can make it 3-0 if they face the Men in Blue thrice in the upcoming Asia Cup in UAE.
The last time these two sides met at the same venue, Pakistan had beaten India for the first in a World Cup match in any format. In last year’s group stage encounter in T20 World Cup, Pakistan beat the Men in Blue by 10 wickets.
Babar Azam said, they will approach the Asia Cup in the same manner and try to focus on their own game.
“Yes, there will be different pressure but as we tried in last World Cup (not to let it affect us), we’ll try to focus on our game and believe in our abilities. This time also our focus will be to give our best. Putting our best effort is in our hands, results are not. If we give our best then more often than not, results will also come,” he said.
Notably, in the last Asia Cup four years ago, there were two India vs Pakistan matches and India both of them. There would have been three had Pakistan reached the finals but they couldn’t. India played Bangladesh in the final and beat them in a thriller to win the Asia Cup.
Pakistan’s next assignment before the Asia Cup will be a three-match ODI series against the Netherlands beginning August 16 while the Men in Blue will tour Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series starting 18 August
Highlights:
• India and Pakistan to face at least twice in the Asia Cup.
• Babar Azam says they will try to focus on their own game.
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