India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in a blockbuster Asia Cup clash on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium. Both teams started the with a win, and a win in the second game will seal a berth in the Super 4s.
India thrashed the UAE in the first game by nine wickets after bowling them out for a mere 57, courtesy of Kuldeep Yadav’s four-fer.
Pakistan, on the other hand, thrashed Oman by 93 runs after bowling them out for 67 in a chase of 161. While both teams have shown great form, India are a far superior team, and it would be very tough for the Men in Green to challenge the .
Shoaib Akhtar’s Bold Take
Ahead of the big clash, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar made a bold remark on India’s approach for the game. Akhtar warned Pakistan that India will come hard at the Men in Green and try to hammer them down.
“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,” said Akhtar on the Tapmad YouTube channel.
The veteran added that Pakistan need to play their best game to challenge India, highlighting that a strong start with the ball could put India on the backfoot.
India Breaks Silence On Boycott Calls
Meanwhile, the India-Pakistan clash is facing massive backlash due to the Pahalgam attack, and many have called for the of the match. Despite the outrage, the BCCI gave a green signal to the contest, citing India’s benefit. When asked if the boycott calls will have any effect on team India, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the team is only focused on playing good cricket.
“Once we are here to play, we are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think there is anything on my mind apart from playing cricket. That is what we are focusing on,” Kotak told reporters in Dubai on Friday.
“I think for players and us, once the BCCI says and they are aligned with the government, we are here to prepare and play. It will be a competitive game. India versus Pakistan is always competitive, so we would rather focus on that,” he added.