Once more, it’s that time in world cricket. On Saturday, September 2 in Pallekele, the 2023 Asia Cup group stage match between India and Pakistan will take place. A match that might occur twice more over the course of the following two weeks as the six-team competition could see the two square off in the Super 4 and even the championship game.
The two square off in the ODI World Cup in October at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, which can hold up to 15,000 spectators. Thus, there is a noticeable excitement surrounding the competition. It is without a doubt the largest cricket match in the history of the game, according to former Australia cricketer Tom Moody. even above the Ashes, despite the fact that the most storied Test cricket rivalry just produced an alluring 2-2 series in England.
According to Moody, this match is superior to the Ashes. It always has a great backstory, and both countries are world-class cricketing nations.
He continued, “And when you look at that Pakistan squad, it does boast a lot of talent,” after analysing the two sides and the individuals on display. But the fact that it also boasts experience is something that really jumps out to me. Because they now possess both experience and talent, they pose a serious threat. They have true pace on their side and can match India’s pace bowling. Their one potential weakness, in my opinion, is India’s superior batting depth and talent. Therefore, that will be the intriguing pressure that they apply to individuals like Babar Azam at the top of the queue.
All four of the most recent T20I matchups between India and Pakistan saw both teams split the victories. In their 2021 T20 World Cup match, Pakistan defeated India, but the men in blue got the better of them in Melbourne in 2022. Both would win a game each at the Asia Cup the previous season.
On June 16, 2019, India, led by Virat Kohli, defeated Pakistan, captained by Sarfaraz Khan, in a 50-over match at the 2019 World Cup in Manchester.
Moody wouldn’t think twice to say “Shaheen Afridi” when asked who he believes poses the greatest threat to the Indian batting. Stop here. Simply put, in my opinion, Shaheen Afridi poses a serious threat with the new ball, as he has in the past. Breakthrough with the new ball, gets to remove a few early wickets, which then allows India’s middle order to revive the situation. especially for a middle order that hasn’t played much recently.
The Asia Cup’s Group A matches up India and Pakistan against Nepal, while Group B matches up Sri Lanka—the tournament’s other co-host—with Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
