The high-stakes rivalry between India and Pakistan is set to take centre stage once again when the two sides meet in Dubai on Sunday for their Group A clash at the Asia Cup. Both teams head into the contest on the back of resounding wins in their opening matches. India launched their campaign with a ruthless nine-wicket victory over the UAE. Kuldeep Yadav’s 4 for 7 and Shivam Dube’s 3 for 4 dismantled the hosts for just 57 runs, before Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill raced to the target in 4.3 overs. The stunning result highlighted India’s intent early in the tournament. Pakistan too enjoyed a commanding start, brushing aside debutants Oman by 93 runs. Mohammad Haris struck a smooth half-century before the bowlers, led by Sufiyan Muqeem and Faheem Ashraf, closed out the game with ease to bowl the opposition out for just 67. As anticipation builds for the marquee fixture, former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has issued a stark assessment of how India will approach the game. Speaking on the Tapmad YouTube channel, Akhtar remarked, “What kind of cricket are they going to play against you? It’s pretty obvious they are going to dominate you, and then they’ll make sure to hammer you down. That’s as simple as it gets.” Akhtar acknowledged that Pakistan will need to bring their best game to challenge their arch-rivals, pointing out that a strong start with the ball could provide opportunities. But his comments only highlighted the understanding that India, with their current depth and form, will look to take control from the start itself.
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With both sides having sent strong messages in their opening fixtures, Sunday’s clash promises to add more to one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries in another exciting chapter.