Asia Cup to reignite rivalry between India, Pakistan; two teams may face each other thrice
Aug 24, 2022
New Delhi [India], August 24 : India and Pakistan will reignite their cricketing rivalry after a nine-month gap when the two arch-rivals meet each other in the Asia Cup 2022 on August 28.
A blockbuster tie can also happen between the two sides in the Super 4 stage of the tournament.
The last meeting between the two teams was during the T20I World Cup 2021 when Pakistan registered 10-wicket victory chasing a target of 151.
The Asia Cup will feature two groups. The first group will see India, Pakistan and a qualifying team squaring off against each other while, the second group has Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Indian team sits on top of the ICC T20I rankings while Pakistan are ranked third. There is a high possibility of the two teams advancing from the group stage to Super 4s and making their way to the final.
India and Pakistan have met in the Asia Cup 14 times, out of which India has managed to emerge victorious eight times while Pakistan has pipped India five times and one game ended without a result.
Nothing compares to the fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan and the matches have a global appeal.
Two teams each from Group A and Group B are to advance to the Super 4s.. Barring any surprising performance from the other qualifying teams, the two sides are expected to lock horns again on September 4 to ascertain the top two teams in the Super 4 phase.
Since there are no knockout matches and the top two teams in Super 4s will advance to the final, there is a possibility that it could be India and Pakistan. The final is slated for September 11.
If the two teams manage to reach the finals of the Asia Cup in this edition, it will be the first instance of the two teams facing each other in the final of the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are no pushovers and they have proved it in the previous editions of the tournament.
India has won the Asia Cup most number of times (7), while Sri Lanka has won it five times, and Pakistan has managed to grab it twice.
In terms of the history of the Asia Cup, the first competition took place in the United Arab Emirates in 1984, with India and Sri Lanka playing each other in the finals. The Men in Blue were the first Asia Cup champions.
