ENTICING BLOCKBUSTER
Sarfraz, Rohit promise exciting India-Pakistan clash
RIVAL captains Sarfraz Ahmed and Rohit Sharma played down the hype surrounding the much-awaited India-Pakistan clash in Dubai today, insisting that the Asia Cup is much more than a contest between the archrivals.
But despite their claims, millions of fans across the border and elsewhere in the world will be watching the Group A clash, with a sold out 25,000-crowd expected at Dubai Stadium.
The game is the first between the sub-continent rivals since Pakistan thumped India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Oval in June last year.
Sarfraz, who led Pakistan in that memorable Champions Trophy triumph, denied that his team will have a psychological advantage.
“We will not take that Champions Trophy win in our minds,” said Sarfraz on Monday, a day after his team thumped qualifiers Hong Kong in their first match of the tournament.
“That was a different atmosphere (in London) and conditions. It was a year ago so that’s history so we will enter the ground with a new strategy and passion.”
India’s regular captain and world-class batsman Virat Kohli has been rested for the competition to help his aching back after a gruelling tour of England.
But Sarfraz refused to accept Kohli’s absence will make much difference.
“They have good players who have done well for India. So I don’t think it will make much difference to India. Their batting is very strong so I can say that it will be a good match.”
Sarfraz has told his players just to enjoy the occasion.
India skipper Sharma said his team will be looking beyond Pakistan.
“It’s always exciting to play Pakistan, but it’s not about one team as well. There are other teams also eyeing the title,” said Sharma, who has the rare record of scoring three one-day international double hundreds.
• AFGHANISTAN continued their rise in international cricket with an upset 91-run win over Sri Lanka on Monday, knocking the former champions out of the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka needed to win the Group B match to stay in the tournament but were outwitted by smart batting from Afghanistan who put up a fighting total of 249 all out at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The fighters then laid into Sri Lankan batting with spinner Rashid Khan (2-26), Mohammad Nabi (2-30) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-32) sharing wickets as the five-time former winners were bowled out for 158 in 41.2 overs.