Asia Cup 2022, India vs Pakistan: India and Pakistan resume the world’s greatest cricket rivalry | Cricket News
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An India-Pakistan match is a rare occurrence these days, which explains the buzz
DUBAI: On Saturday evening, the searing heat here relented as a mild breeze swept across the ICC academy when India and Pakistan had turned up for training on the eve of their first Asia Cup match.
This is the match the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) is banking on to generate heat and revenue. Every second cab driver is talking about this marquee fixture. The buzz is unmistakable.
DUBAI: On Saturday evening, the searing heat here relented as a mild breeze swept across the ICC academy when India and Pakistan had turned up for training on the eve of their first Asia Cup match.
This is the match the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) is banking on to generate heat and revenue. Every second cab driver is talking about this marquee fixture. The buzz is unmistakable.
India-Pakistan fixtures have always drawn big investments. In the past decade, the rivalry has become more intense, because the two teams meet only in multi-nation tournaments these days. That’s the reason the organisers have ensured they will meet at least twice in the tournament here – thrice if they both qualify for the final on September 11.
In essence, the authorities have turned the continental event into the now-elusive bilateral series even as the two countries are forever trying to bring about a thaw in their diplomatic relations. The administrators, even at ICC, have tried to create opportunities to pit these two against each other at marquee tournaments. And they have succeeded in doing so post 2013. It is argued that the draws are largely dominated by the urge to boost the game’s financial environment.
India’s history at Asia Cup
The current climate in international cricket is hostile. The domestic T20 leagues are eating into the calendar, generating easier money for the boards. At a time when bilateral series, especially ODIs, are witnessing waning interest from both players and fans, this T20 edition of Asia Cup could become a marker for how the international game could be run in the future. Multiple teams vying for bunch two marquee teams – which rarely meet each other – drawing in the fans and advertisers, is a recipe for instant success.
More sugar than spice
The routine build-up to India-Pakistan clashes over the ages have yearned for spice and a little hostility from either camp. Those who have been following the two teams practice here for the last three days, have been overwhelmed by the camaraderie between the players. The images of Shaheen Afridi with Rishabh Pant and Yuzvendra Chahal have spread like wildfire on the internet. They have shared the practice turf and exchanged pleasantries right through their sessions. Usually, captains play down the hype as the talked up the fellowship between the two teams at the pre-match press conference.
Here’s what the Hitman had to say 🎤 ahead of India 🇮🇳 vs. Pakistan 🇵🇰 🏏#INDvPAK #ACC #AsiaCup2022 … https://t.co/5svN2hWB4a
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) 1661630068000
“These things have always been there. We have been playing Pakistan for so long. We have always had younger guys in the team are now doing the same,” Rohit Sharma said on Saturday.
“We speak to every opposition. It’s a normal thing. We talk about different topics besides cricket. India-Pakistan match is enjoyed by people across the globe. The main thing is that as a team and player we enjoy on the day to play better cricket,” Babar Azam opined.
Pakistani 🇵🇰 skipper, Babar Azam 🎤 is confident in the aggression of younger pacers in the team 💪🏼 #INDvPAK #ACC… https://t.co/sPrh0vUzIw
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) 1661629435000
Moving on from last T20 WC tie Bringing up the last encounter at the same venue too couldn’t extract any saucy reaction from either captain. India’s 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup last November, their first loss to arch-rivals in World Cup history, has been safely locked in the cupboard, for now.
“The win does give us some confidence. But that’s in the past. There is no point thinking about it. The conditions have changed, and a lot of things are different now. It’s a new game,” was Babar’s curt response.
How India and Pakistan have fared at the Asia Cup
Rohit, however, did concede that the previous defeat was talked about but there are no hang-ups. “Mood in the camp is buzzing. Fresh tournament and a new start. Not thinking about what happened in the past. We do talk about our losses. We try to correct the mistakes. It is a fresh start. October was a long time back,” the Indian captain said.
As Rohit walked off for a light optional training, the Pakistan team slogged it out for close to three hours.
Both captains tried to calm the nerves on the eve of the contest, but the Dubai International Stadium is going to generate a lot of heat on Sunday evening.
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