Cornered Pakistan eye redemption against India

KARACHI:

Few contests in world cricket stir the kind of emotion and anticipation that Pakistan verses India does, and as the two arch-rivals are set to square off again in the Asia Cup, the stakes are higher than ever.

Both teams enter the contest with storylines that go beyond the scoreboard — batting struggles, individual brilliance, and even off-field controversies are setting the stage for another chapter in this storied rivalry.

In their last meeting, India came on top with a dominant display both with bat and ball. First, they restrict Pakistan to a modest 127-9 in their 20 overs.

In reply, captain Suryakumar Yadav put up a clinical performance with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 47, his best against Pakistan, to give the defending champions a seven-wicket victory.

However, their victory was overshadowed by the handshake controversy, as both captains avoided the customary handshake, and after the game, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube went straight to the dressing room without any post-match interaction.

Speaking to the media, Suryakumar explained that the decision was made in alignment with instructions they received.

He added that they came to the match only to play.

They gave a proper reply on the field. They stood with the BCCI and their government. And emphasized, “Some things in life are more important than sportsmanship.”

This incident led to the PCB filing a complaint to the ICC and sending lots of emails, where they had asked the cricketing body to sack match referee umpire Andy Pycroft and reveal that he didn't uphold the spirit of the game.

For Pakistan, their biggest worry has been their batting inconsistency, particularly at the top of the order.

Saim Ayub, despite showing promise with the ball in hand as a part-time option, is yet to open his account with the bat in this tournament.  His lack of runs has piled extra pressure on the rest of the top order.

Though Sahibzada Farhan played a couple of brilliant strokes during his 40-run knock, however, his struggle with the bat was evident. He was failing to rotate the strike and was consuming dot balls. 

The experienced Fakhar Zaman, therefore, becomes a key figure.  Known for his ability to change the tempo of big games, Fakhar’s form would dictate how deep Pakistan could bat.

The silver lining for Pakistan has been Shaheen Shah Afridi’s unexpected batting brilliance.

The left-arm quick has stepped up in crunch moments with the bat, adding resilience to the lower order.

His runs have given Pakistan a much-needed cushion, but the management will be wary of relying too heavily on tail-end resistance against an Indian attack built for breakthroughs.

On the Indian side, Abhishek Sharma has impressed at the top, bringing stability and aggression in equal measure.

His clean hitting against pace has given India quick starts, something Pakistan will have to counter with disciplined new-ball spells.

The middle order remains India’s engine room, and Suryakumar Yadav’s recent innings of an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan was a reminder of how quickly he can tilt a contest.

His range of strokes, especially against spin, makes him a dangerous presence that Pakistan must contain.

Spin trap

Pakistan’s batters have recently been struggling against quality spin bowling, and Kuldeep Yadav, along with Axar Patel, exploited that in the last meeting.

Their variations and control in the middle overs kept Pakistan under pressure, as the duo shared five wickets between them, and both will again be central to India’s bowling plans.

With Pakistan desperate for batting stability and India buoyed by in-form batters and disciplined bowling, Sunday’s clash promises drama.

For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman’s big-game temperament and Shaheen Afridi’s all-round impact could be decisive.

For India, Abhishek Sharma’s starts and Suryakumar’s middle-order mastery could swing the momentum.

And as always one can expect intense emotions on the pitch, scrutiny, and a packed stadium with fervid fans, when the two rivals meet under the Asia Cup spotlight.