The excitement among fans is rising rapidly as they are licking their lips in anticipation at watching two arch-rivals - India and Pakistan - cross swords in the upcoming Asia Cup. The high-voltage match is scheduled to take place on August 28 and two teams will cross swords in international cricket after 10 months.
Both teams are stacked with some high-quality T20 players but an India-Pakistan tie is often won by the team that handles the pressure better than their opposition. The Men in Blue suffered an embarrassing 10-wicket win against the Men in Green during the ICC T20 World Cup in UAE last year. Thus, Rohit Sharma's men will look to exact revenge on their neighbours.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria reckons that India is well-placed to register a win over their arch-rivals in the Asia Cup while citing recent injuries to key players in both the camps.
"It is a bit early to say. I want to see KL Rahul's form in the Zimbabwe series because he is coming back from injury. Then there is a question on Rohit Sharma who is recovering from his back injury. In the Pakistan team, Naseem Shah was limping around with his knee injury as well and then Shaheen Shah Afridi's fitness issue. There are few players from both sides who are on the injury list," Kaneria told indiatoday.in.
Kaneria, who has played 79 international matches for Pakistan, observed that India's high-quality bowling attack makes them the favourite over the Men in Green.
"For now, India have that impact, they can come back because they have been playing a good amount of T20 cricket. So 60 percent to India and 40 percent to Pakistan. 60 percent to India because of their bowling strength. India's spin bowling is good with world-class Ravichandran Ashwin, (Ravi) Bishnoi, (Yuzvendra) Chahal, (Ravindra) Jadeja. And fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh, who can do wonders for team India. Pakistan have to look into their bowling department, if there is no Shaheen Shah Afridi then who will be coming in for him?" he opined.
The Asia Cup 2022 will begin on August 27 with the final of the tournament scheduled for September 11.
