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Asia Cup 2018: India crush sloppy Pakistan

Dubai: India thrashed Pakistan by 8 wickets in a match of the Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.

By Web Desk

September 19, 2018

Dubai: India thrashed Pakistan by 8 wickets in a match of the Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.

India chased down Pakistan's below-par target of 163 in 29 overs at the loss of two wickets.

India win by 8 wickets

End of over 29: India 164/2

Malik to Rayudu, FOUR

Malik to Karthik, 1 run

Malik to Karthik, FOUR

Malik to Karthik, no run

Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

End of over 28: India 154/2

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, no run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, FOUR

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, no run

End of over 27: India 149/2

Shoaib Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

Shoaib Malik to Karthik, 1 run

Shoaib Malik to Karthik, FOUR

Shoaib Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

Shoaib Malik to Karthik, 1 run

Shoaib Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

End of over 26: India 140/2

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, no run

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, 2 runs

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, no run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

End of over 25: India 137/2

Amir to Karthik, no run

Amir to Rayudu, 1 run

Amir to Rayudu, no run

Amir to Karthik, 1 run

End of over 24: India 135/2

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, no run

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, no run

End of over 23: India 132/2

Amir to Rayudu, no run

Amir to Karthik, 1 run

Amir to Rayudu, 1 run

Amir to Rayudu, no run

End of over 22: India 130/2

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, no run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, no run

End of over 21: India 129/2

Faheem to Rayudu, 1 run

Faheem to Rayudu, FOUR

Faheem to Rayudu, no run

Faheem to Karthik, 1 run

Faheem to Rayudu, 1 run

Faheem to Karthik, 1 run

End of over 20: India 121/2

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, no run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Karthik, no run

End of over 19: India 118/2

Faheem to Rayudu, 1 run

Faheem to Karthik, 1 run

Faheem to Karthik, no run

Faheem to Rayudu, 1 run

Faheem to Rayudu, wide ball, 1 run

Faheem to Rayudu, no run

Faheem to Karthik, 1 run

End of over 18: India 114/2

Fakhar to Rayudu, 1 run

Fakhar to Karthik, 1 run

Fakhar to Karthik, no run

Fakhar to Karthik, SIX

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

End of over 17: India 106/2

Faheem to Rayudu, 1 run

Faheem to Karthik, 1 run

Faheem to Dinesh Karthik, no run

Faheem to Dhawan, OUT, plays in the air and straight to Babar who makes no mistake. Dhawan is gone

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Dhawan, FOUR

End of over 16: India 100/1

Fakhar Zaman to Dhawan, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, 1 run

Fakhar Zaman to Rayudu, no run

Shadab Khan to Rayudu, no run

End of over 15: India 98/1

Hasan to Rayudu, 1 run

Hasan to Rayudu, no run

Hasan to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan to Dhawan, FOUR

Hasan to Dahwan, no run

Hasan to Dhawan, no run

End of over 14: India 92/1

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, no run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, FOUR

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, no run

Shadab Khan to Rayudu, 1 run

Drink break

Shadab Khan to Rohit, OUT, Rohit is bowled after hitting an impressive century

Shadab Khan gets the bowl

End of over 13: India 87/0

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, no run

Hasan to Rohit, FOUR, its a 36-ball fifty for the skipper

Hasan to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, SIX

End of over 12: India 73/0

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Dhawan, FOUR

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Rohit, 1 run

Faheem to Dhawan, 1 run

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Dhawan, no run, FREE HIT

End of over 11: India 66/0

Hasan Ali to Rohit, no run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, no run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, SIX

Hasan Ali to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 10: India 58/0

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Dhawan, wide, 1 run

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Dhawan, FOUR

Faheem to Dhawan, no run, great fielding by Babar Azam

Faheem to Dhawan, no run

Faheem to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 9: India 52/6

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, no run

Hasan Ali to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Rohit, FOUR

Hasan Ali to Rohit, no run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, no run

Hasan Ali brought into the attack

End of over 8: India 46/0

Usman to Rohit, no run

Usman to Rohit, SIX

Usman to Rohit, FOUR, no ball, FREE HIT

Usman to Rohit, SIX

Usman to Rohit, no run

Usman to Dhawan, 1 run

Usman to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 7: India 27/0

10 runs off Amir's over.

Amir to Rohit, 1 run

Amir to Rohit, FOUR, another lovely shot for four runs

Amir to Rohit, FOUR, cracking shot for four

Amir to Rohit, no run

Amir to Dhawan, 1 run

End of over 6: India 17/0

Usman to Rohit, no run

Usman to Dhawan, 1 run

Usman to Dhawan, no run

Usman to Rohit, 1 run

Usman to Rohit, no run

End of over 5: India 15/0

Amir to Dhawan, no run, a maiden over

Amir to Dhawan, no run

End of over 4: India 15/0

Usman to Dhawan, 1 run

Usman to Dhawan, no run

End of over 3: India 14/0

Amir to Rohit, no run

Amir to Dhawan, 3 runs

Amir to Dhawan, FOUR, great shot!

Amir to Dhawan, no run

End of over 2: India 7/0

Usman to Rohit, no run

Usman to Rohit, no run, good bowling by the youngster

Usman to Rohit, no run

Usman to Rohit, FOUR, inside edge and ball goes past keeper for four

Usman to Dhawan, 1 run, guides to the third man for a single

End of over 1: India 2/0

Amir to Rohit, no run

Amir to Dhawan, 1 run

Amir to Dhawan, no run

Amir to Rohit, 1 run, India off to the mark

Mohammad Amir given the bowl.

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan to begin the chase

The umpires are already in the middle. Pakistan players take to the field as India begin the chase. Pakistan will be hoping Muhammad Amir comes good with the bowl to rattle Indian top order.

India is set to begin the chase shortly . The Men in Blue need just 163 to win.

PAKISTAN 162/10 (43.1 overs)

A disciplined bowling performance helped India restricted Pakistan to 162 in a key clash of the Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Wednesday.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/15)and Kedar Jadhav (3/23) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/23) were the chief destroyers, bundling Pakistan out for just 162 runs.

Babar Azam top scored for Pakistan with 47 runs while Shoaib Malik also chipped in with 43 runs.

Pakistan Scorecard

Imam-ul-Haq c Dhoni b Kumar 2

Fakhar Zaman c Chahal b Kumar 0

Babar Azam b Yadav 47

Shoaib Malik run out 43

Sarfraz Ahmed c sub (Pandey) b Jadhav 6

Asif Ali c Dhoni b Jadhav 9

Shadab Khan st Dhoni b Jadhav 8

Faheem Ashraf c Dhawan b Bumrah 21

Mohammad Amir not out 18

Hasan Ali c Karthik b Kumar 1

Usman Shinwari b Bumrah 0

Extras (lb6, nb1) 7

Total (all out; 43.1 overs) 162

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Imam), 2-3 (Zaman), 3-85 (Azam), 4-96 (Sarfraz), 5-100 (Malik), 6-110 (Asif), 7-121 (Shadab), 8-158 (Ashraf), 9-160 (Hasan)

Bowling: Kumar 7-1-15-3, Bumrah 7.1-2-23-2, Pandya 4.5-0-24-0, Chahal 7-0-34-0, Yadav 8-0-37-1, Rayudu 0.1-0-0-0, Jadhav 9-1-23-3

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Pakistan are all out for 162 in 43.1 overs.

Bumrah to Usman, OUT, clean bowled

End of over 43: Pakistan 162/9

Kumar to Amir, no run

Kumar to Amir, 2 runs

Usman Shinwari is the last man to come for batting

Kumar to Hasan, OUT. Hasan Ali departs after playing a horrible shot.

End of over 42: Pakistan 160/8

Bumrah to Amir, no run

Bumrah to Hasan Ali , 1 run

Bumrah to Hasan Ali, no run, good yorker

Bumrah to Amir, 1 run

Hasan Ali walks in to bat as Faheem falls

Bumrah to Faheem, OUT, plays in the air and its easy taking for Dhawan. Faheem gone

End of over 41: Pakistan 158/7

Kumar to Faheem, 1 run

Kumar to Faheem, another dot ball, no run

Kumar to Faheem, no run, four dot ball in a row. Faheem struggling here. Will he go big?

Kumar to Faheem, no run

Kumar to Faheem, no run, big appeal for LBW turned down by the umpire

Kumar to Faheem, no run

Kumar brought back into the attack as 10 overs to go

End of over 40: Pakistan 157/7

Kuldeep to Faheem, 1 run

Kuldeep to Faheem, no run

Kuldeep to Faheem, FOUR, edge and the ball goes for four, missing the stumps as well as Dhoni

Kuldeep to Amir, 1 run

End of over 39: Pakistan 151/7

Chahal to Faheem, no run

Chahal to Faheem, 2 runs

Chahal to Faheem, no run

Chahal to Amir, 1 run

Chahal to Amir, no run

End of over 38: Pakistan 148/7

Chahal to Faheem, no run

Chahal to Faheem, FOUR

Chahal to Amir, 1 run

Chahal to Faheem, dropped. 2 runs

Chahal to Amir, 0 run

End of over 37: Pakistan 141/7

Jadhav to Faheem, no run

Jadhav to Faheem, 1 run

Jadhav to Amir, no1 run

Jadhav to Amir, no run

Jadhav to Faheem, 1 run

Jadhav to Amir, 1 run

End of over 36: Pakistan 138/7

Chahal to Faheem, no run

Chahal to Faheem, no run, dropped

Chahal to Faheem, no run

Chahal to Amir, 1 run

Chahal to Faheem, 1 run, NO BALL

Chahal to Amir, 1 run

End of over 35: Pakistan 134/7

Jadhav to Amir, 1 run

Jadhav to Faheem, 1 run

Jadhav to Amir, 1 run

Jadhav to Amir, no run

Jadhav to Faheem, 1 run

Jadhav to Faheem, no run

End of over 34: Pakistan 130/7

Bumrah to Amir, no run

Bumrah to Amir, FOUR

Bumrah to Amir, no run

Bumrah to Faheem, 1 run

Bumrah to Faheem, no run

Bumrah to Faheem, FOUR

Drink break

End of over 33: Pakistan 121/7

Jadhav to Shadab, OUT, Shadab stumped. Umpire signals the third umpire but Shadab walks back. Another bite the dust

Jadhav to Shadab, no run

Jadhav to Faheem, 1 run, quick single

Jadhav to Shadab, 1 run

Jadhav to Shadab, no run

End of over 32: Pakistan 119/6

Bumrah to Faheem, no run. Huge appeal for LBW. Umpire is not convinced. India goes for the review. No edge, but height could be the factor. It's going over the stump. Faheem survives.

Bumrah to Shadab, 1 run

Bumrah to Shadab, dot ball

Bumrah to Faheem, 1 run

Bumrah to Faheem, no run

Bumrah brought back into the attack

End of over 31: Pakistan 117/6

Jadhav to Shadab, 2 runs

Jadhav to Shadab, no run

Jadhav to Shahdab, no run

Jadhav to Faheem, 1 run

Jadhav to Shadab, 1 run

Jadhav to Shadab, no run

End of over 30: Pakistan 113/6

Faheem Ashraf 2 (6b)

Shadab Khan 3 (7b)

Kuldeep to Faheem Ashraf, 2 runs

Kuldeep to Shadab, 1 run

Kuldeep to Shadab, no run

End of over 29: Pakistan 110/6

Faheem Ashraf 0 (5b)

Shadab Khan 2 (2b)

Wicket maiden. What an over from the Indian bowler!

Jadhav to Faheem, no run

Faheem Ashraf in the middle as Asif departs

Jadhav to Asif, OUT, edge and Dhoni doesn't make any mistake this time. Simple take. But a terrible shot from the inexperienced Pakistani batsman.

End of over 28: Pakistan 110/5

Asif Ali 9 (9b)

Shadab Khan 2 (2b)

Kuldeep to Asif, 1 run

Kuldeep to Asif, SIX. Asif got the power and technique to smash the ball over the rope

Kuldeep to Asif, no run

Kuldeep to Shadab, 1 run

Kuldeep to Asif, 1 run

Kuldeep to Shadab, 1 run, Shadab off the mark

Shadab Khan walks in as Pakistan in search of a big partnership.

End of over 27: Pakistan 100/5

Jadhav to Asif, OUT, Malik is run out. Malik wants a single, Asif isn't interested. Direct throw at Malik's end and he falls short

Jadhav to Asif, no run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

Jadhav to Asif, 1 run, outside edge gets Asif a run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

End of over 26: Pakistan 97/4

Shoaib Malik 41 (65b)

Asif Ali 0 (1b)

Kuldeep to Malik, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, no run

End of over 25: Pakistan 96/4

Jadhav to Asif, no run

Asif Ali walks in as Sarfraz falls early

Jadhav to Sarfraz, OUT, the Pakistan captain is caught right on the boundary. Top catch. Substitute fielder Pandey takes a stunner.

Jadhav to Sarfraz, 2 runs

Jadhav to Sarfraz, no run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

Jadhav to Malik, no run

End of over 24: Pakistan 93/3

Kuldeep to Malik, 1 run

Kuldeep to Sarfraz, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, Dropped. Easy catch dropped, Malik gets a single

Kuldeep to Malik, 2 runs

Kuldeep to Malik, no run

Kuldeep to Sarfraz, 1 run

End of over 23: Pakistan 87/3

Jadhav to Sarfraz, 1 rim

Jadhav to Sarfraz, no run

Kedar Jadhav given the ball

End of over 22: Pakistan 86/3

Shoaib Malik 36 (53b)

Sarfraz Ahmed 1 (1b)

Kuldeep to Malik, no run

Kuldeep to Sarfraz, 1 run

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed walks in

Kuldeep to Babar, OUT, missed the line, beaten and ball hit the stamp. Big big blow for Pakistan

Kuldeep to Babar, no run

End of over 21: Pakistan 85/2

Babar Azam 47 (60b)

Shoaib Malik 36 (50b)

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, no run

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, 2 runs

Chahal to Babar, no run

End of over 20: Pakistan 80/2

Babar Azam 43 (56b)

Shoaib Malik 35 (48b)

Kuldeep to Babar, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, no run

Kuldeep to Babar, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, 1 run

End of over 19: Pakistan 76/2

Shoaib Malik 33 (44b)

Babar Azam 41 (54b)

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, no run

Chahal to Babar, 1 run, direct hit would have sent Malik packing. Another quick single

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, no run

End of over 18: Pakistan 73/2

Ambati Rayudu to Babar, no run

Who will bowl the last ball? Rayudu is given the ball

Hardik has gone down. He looks in pain. Looks like he's got a cramp. Dry weather here that can sap the energy and water-content out of your body. Stretcher is out. Hardik is being stretched off. Bad news for India.

Hardik to Babar, no run

Hardik to Malik, 1 run

Hardik to Babar, 1 run

Hardik to Babar, no run

Hardik to Babar, FOUR

End of over 17: Pakistan 67/2

abar Azam 35 (48b)

Shoaib Malik 30 (38b)

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, 3 runs

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, 1 run, another quick single

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, no run

Drink break

End of over 16: Pakistan 60/2

Shoaib Malik 26 (36b)

Babar Azam 32 (44b)

Hardik to Malik, no run, DROPPED, edge and Dhoni drops it

Hardik to Babar, 1 run

Hardik to Babar, no run

Hardik to Malik, 1 run, sharp single

Hardik to Babar, 1 run

End of over 15: Pakistan 57/2

Chahal to Malik, no run

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, no run

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

End of over 14: Pakistan 55/2

Babar Azam 29 (37b)

Shoaib Malik 24 (31b)

Hardik to Babar, FOUR

Hardik to Babar, no run

Hardik to Malik, 1 run, very close, but Babar makes it just in time

Hardik to Malik, no run

Hardik to Babar, 1 run

End of over 13: Pakistan 49/2

Babar Azam 24 (33b)

Shoaib Malik 23 (29b)

Kuldeep to Babar, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, 1 run

Kuldeep to Malik, SIX, excellent use of feet for a mighty six

Kuldeep to Babar, 1 run

Kuldeep to Babar, no run

Kuldeep to Malik, 1 run

Kuldeep Yadav gets the bowl

End of over 12: Pakistan 39/2

Babar Azam 22 (30b)

Shoaib Malik 15 (26b)

Hardik to Babar, FOUR , beatiful shot, great timing

Hardik to Malik, 1 run

Hardik to Malik, 2 runs

Hardik to Malik, no run

End of over 11: Pakistan 32/2

Babar Azam 18 (29b)

Shoaib Malik 12 (21b)

Chahal to Babar, FOUR, great shot by Babar gets Pakistan four runs

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik,no run

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, no run

Chalal to Malik, 1 run

Yuzvendra Chahal gets the bowl

End of over 10: Pakistan 25/2

End of the Power Play

Hardik to Babar, no run

Hardik to Babar, no run, good shot but straight to the fielder

Hardik to Babar, no run

Hardik to Malik, 1 run, another quick single

Hardik to Babar, 1 run, quick single

Hardik to Babar, no run

End of over 9: Pakistan 23/2

Kumar to Malik, no run

Kumar to Babar, 1 run

Kumar to Babar, no run

End of over 8: Pakistan 22/2

Bumrah to Shoaib Malik, no run

Bumrah to Babar Azam, 1 run

Bumrah to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Bumrah to Shoaib Malik, no run

End of over 7: Pakistan 20/0

Kumar to Babar Azam, no ru

Kumar to Babar Azam, no run

Kumar to Babar Azam, FOUR

Kumar to Babar Azam, no run

End of over 6: Pakistan 12/2

Bumrah to Malik, no run

Bumrah to Babar, 1 run

Bumrah to Babar, no run

Bumrah to Malik, 3 runs

Bumrah to Malik, 4 runs

Bumrah to Malik, no run

End of over 5: Pakistan 5/2

Kumar to babar, dot ball

Kumar to Malik , 1 run

Kumar to Malik , dot ball

Kumar to Malik, dot ball

Shoaib Malik walks in

Kumar to Fakhar, OUT, Fakhar falls. Fakhar plays in the air, fielder makes no mistake.

End of over 4: Pakistan 4/1

Bumrah to Babar, dot ball, another maiden over

Bumrah to Babar, dot ball. India on top here. Pakistan look a little bit rusty and under pressure.

Bumrah to Babar, another dot ball

Bumrah to Babar, dot ball

Bumrah to Babar, dot ball, no run

End of over 3: Pakistan 3/1

Kumar to Fakhar, dot ball, no run

Kumar to Fakhar, another dot ball, no run

Kumar to Babar, 1 run, Babar off the mark with a single.

Kumar to Babar, dot ball, no run

Babar Azam walks in

Kumar to Imam, OUT, outside edge and Imam is gone. Big wicket for India as in-form Imam falls cheaply.

End of over 2: Pakistan 2/0

Bumrah to Fakhar, dot ball, no run

Bumrah to Fakhar, another dot ball, no run

Bumrah to Fakhar, dot ball, no run

Jasprit Bumrah to Fakhar Zaman, dot ball, no run

Jasprit Bumran gets the ball

End of over 1: Pakistan 2/0

Kumar to Imam, dot ball, no run

Kumar to Imam 2 runs. Pakistan off to the mark.

Kumar to Imam, dot ball, no run

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the ball to bowl the first over of the match.

Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq warming up.

In-form batsman Imam ul Haq, dashing opener Fakhra Zaman to open the batting for Pakistan as Sarfraz has fielded an unchanged side.

Players take to the field for national anthem. A full house is expected at Dubai International Stadium.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to watch some overs later in the evening when he arrives in UAE on an official visit.

Toss: Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first

Sarfraz Ahmed says: "We would like to score more than 280 runs on the board and then put pressure on them (India)."

For India, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Panyda are back in the playing eleven.

FINAL SQUADS

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan #AsiaCup2018 #INDvPAK

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2018

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has won the toss and elected to bat first against arch rivals India in the last One-day International of Group A in the Asia Cup 2018 here at the Dubai International Cricket stadium on Wednesday.

Spectators have started coming in to watch the biggest match of the Asia Cup 2018 between arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

While India have an edge over Pakistan in Asia Cup, winning six out of 12 encounters, Sarfraz-led team is considered favourite to win today’s high voltage match in Dubai’s sun-baked stadium.

Rival captains Sarfraz Ahmed and Rohit Sharma played down the hype surrounding the much-awaited clash, insisting that the Asia Cup is much more than a contest between the arch-rivals.

But despite their claims, millions of fans across the border and elsewhere in the world will be watching the Group A clash, with a sold out 25,000-crowd expected at Dubai Stadium.

The game is the first between the sub-continent rivals since Pakistan thumped India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Oval in June last year.

The two teams are facing each other for the first time in the United Arab Emirates since 2006, the last of their regular matches which were also held in Sharjah between 1984-2000.

Sarfraz, who led Pakistan in that memorable Champions Trophy triumph, denied that his team will have a psychological advantage.

"We will not take that Champions Trophy win in our minds," said Sarfraz on Monday, a day after his team thumped qualifiers Hong Kong in their first match of the tournament.

"That was a different atmosphere (in London) and conditions. It was a year ago so that´s history so we will enter the ground with a new strategy and passion."

- India without Kohli -

India’s regular captain and world-class batsman Virat Kohli has been rested for the competition to help his aching back after a gruelling tour of England.

But Sarfraz refused to accept Kohli´s absence will make much difference.

"No doubt he (Kohli) is their captain and a world-class batsman but I think they (India) have a good team even without Kohli.

"They have good players who have done well for India. So I don´t think it will make much difference to India. Their batting is very strong so I can say that it will be a good match."

Sarfraz has told his players just to enjoy the occasion.

"My message to the players is not to bother about the result and do (their) best and when you do that you get a positive result in all matches because there are five other teams as well," he said.

India have won the event -- which started in 1984 -- six times, while Pakistan have been champions twice.

Two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, with the top two to reach the September 28 final.

So barring any upsets against Hong Kong, India and Pakistan will also face off again in the Super Four on September 23.

India skipper Sharma said his team will be looking beyond Pakistan.

"It´s always exciting to play Pakistan, but it´s not about one team as well. There are other teams also eyeing the title," said Sharma, who has the rare record of scoring three one-day international double hundreds.

All six teams have to endure extreme hot conditions in the UAE, with the temperature scaling to over 40 degrees Celsius and expected to rise further in the coming days.