Published: Feb 26, 2016, 03:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 27, 2016, 05:11 PM (IST)
India vs Pakistan is always a highly anticipated encounter and it always lives up to its expectations. All 22 players, who take part in this match will give it their all to ensure it is their team that emerges on top in the end. But it is India, who have a slight edge going into this match. India have been dominant in the recent times in the shortest format, winning the last six out of their seven matches, which included a whitewash of Australia Down Under. Pakistan’s poor show against India in big tournaments too hands India the edge going into this match. Full cricket scorecard: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2016, Match 4 at Dhaka
Pakistan have in fact beaten India only once in six matches, which was in Bangalore in 2012. Last T20I the teams played against each other was in Dhaka — the venue for Saturday’s match — in the ICC World T20 2014. India won the match comfortably by seven wickets and would eventually lose to Sri Lanka in the final. READ: Pakistan look to spoil India’s party in Asia Cup 2016 clash
Pakistan have lost their last four out of six T20Is and unlike India, they do not have the momentum coming into the tournament. India made an excellent start to the Asia Cup, by beating Bangladesh by 45 runs in the first match. Pakistan kick start their campaign against India and may stutter a little bit as the pitch and the conditions are not those typical subcontinent ones that one is accustomed to see in Bangladesh. The conditions on offer could be green and the fast bowlers might get a little more purchase than the spinners. India struggled in the initial stages against Bangladesh as well, but churned out enough runs in the end to win the match. Pakistan must be wary of that.
There is no comparison as to who the better captain between Shahid Afridi and MS Dhoni is. Afridi has been in international cricket for a longer period, but when it comes to captaincy, it is Dhoni, who is head and shoulders above Afridi. READ: India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup T20 2016, 4th match: Likely XI for India
Pakistan do have quality players in their side to defeat India, but they always seem to do so in big tournaments. Mohammad Aamer, who recently returned to international cricket after serving a five-year ban, adds to Pakistan’s firepower in the bowling department that already boasts of quality bowlers like Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami. If the track is similar to that of the tournament opener, India may find it tough to survive. READ: ICC World T20 2016: PCB confirms Pakistan’s participation
It is a known fact that India have a superior record in ICC tournaments against their neighbours and that will be playing in Pakistan’s minds for sure. Asia Cup is not an ICC event, but India’s dominance over Pakistan in the shortest format and their near-invincible form of late makes them favourites.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
