Playing against India is valuable,' says Nida Dar ahead of Women’s Asia Cup opener

Pakistan is set to kick off the T20 tournament against arch-rival India today at 6:30pm

The Women's Asia Cup, played in the T20 format this year, kicks off on Friday with a highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan's captain, Nida Dar, acknowledged India's strength and expressed the intent to learn from their experiences.

"Playing against India is valuable as they play with a great approach in T20s. This series is crucial for us to learn from them," Dar remarked.

India's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, highlighted on Thursday that the Women's Asia Cup is a vital preparatory ground for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year.

"This tournament holds significant importance for us as we respect it equally and aim to excel both at the Asian and global levels.

Our focus remains unchanged, whether we are preparing for the T20 World Cup or any other major tournament. Every game is crucial, and we strive to perform our best," Kaur stated at the captains' press conference.

She added, "The challenge is to continue the successful strategies we've implemented in previous Asia Cups, maintain our dominance over other teams, and enjoy our cricket."

India boasts an impressive track record in the Women's Asia Cup T20, with 17 wins out of 20 matches, including their victory over Bangladesh in the 2022 final. They have also been strong against Pakistan, winning 11 out of their 14 encounters.

"We always relish playing against Pakistan, but every team is important. Our goal is to consistently play good cricket, and we will stick to this approach," Kaur said ahead of the opening match.

The tournament features teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, all vying to sharpen their skills ahead of the T20 World Cup.