Asia Cup 2018: India thrash listless Pakistan

DUBAI: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan struck blistering centuries as India thrashed Pakistan by 9 wickets in a match of Super Four stage of Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.

By Web Desk

September 23, 2018

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma (L) and his teammate Shikhar Dhawan greet each other during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Pakistan and India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 23, 2018.

INDIA 238/1 in 39.3 overs (Pakistan 237/7 in 50 overs)

DUBAI: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan struck blistering centuries as India thrashed Pakistan by 9 wickets in a match of Super Four stage of the Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.

This was Pakistan's second consecutive defeat against India in the Asia Cup.

Sharma hit four 6s and seven 4s in his unbeaten 111 off 119 balls while Dhawan struck 100-ball 111 with the help of two 6s and sixteen 4s to guide India to a comfortable win against Pakistan.

India chased down the Pakistan target of 138 in 39.3 overs and nine wickets in hand.

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India wins

Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

Malik to Rayudu, no run

Malik to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 39: India 236/1

Hasan to Rayudu, no run

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, no run

Hasan to Rayudu, 1 run

Hasan to Rayudu, 2 runs

End of over 38: India 232/1

Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

Malik to Rayudu, no run

Malik to Rohit, 1 run

Malik to Rohit, no run

Malik to Rayudu, 1 run

End of over 37: India 229/1

Hasan to Rohit, no run

Hasan to Rohit, SIX

Hasan to Rayudu, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit,no run

Hasan to Rohit, no run

End of over 36: India 221/1

Malik to Rayudu, no run

Malik to Rohit, 1 run

Malik to Rohit, 2 runs

Malik to Rohit, no run

End of over 35: India 218/1

Hasan to Rayudu, FOUR

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rayudu, 1 run

Hasan to Rayudu, no run

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 34: India 211/1

Malik to Rayudu, no run

Malik to Rohit, 1 run

Malik to Rohit, no run, OUT, Dhawan is run out and Pakistan gets the first breakthrough.

Malik to Dhawan, 1 run

Malik to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 33: India 208/0

Shaheen to Dhawan, FOUR

Shaheen to Dhawan, no run

Shaheen to Dhawan, SIX

Shaheen to Dhawan, no run

Shaheen to Dhawan, FOUR, its a century for Dhawan.

Shaheen to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 32: India 193/0

Shoaib Malik to Rohit, 1 rim

Shoaib Malik to Rohit, no run

Shoaib Malik to Dhawan, 1 run

Shoaib Malik to Dhawan, no run

Shoaib Malik to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 31: India 190/0

Shaheen to Dhawan, FOUR

Shaheen to Dhawan, no run

Shaheen to Rohit, 1 run

Shaheen to Rohit, FOUR

Shaheen to Rohit, 2 runs

Shaheen to Rohit, no run

End of over 30: India 179/0

Shadab Khan to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, no run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, FOUR

Shadab Khan to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, 1 run

End of over 29: India 171/0

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Dhawan, no run

Mohammad Nawaz to Dhawan, FOUR

End of over 28: India 164/0

Shadab Khan to Rohit, no run

Shadab Khan to Rohit, Dropped

Shadab Khan to Rohit, SIX

Shadab Khan to Rohit, no run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, no run

End of over 27: India 157/0

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Rohit, FOUR

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

End of over 26: India 152/0

Shadab to Rohit, FOUR

Shadab to Rohit, no run

Shadab to Rohit, 2 runs

Shadab to Rohit, no run

Shadab to Rohit, SIX

Shadab to Rohit, 2 runs

End of over 25: India 138/0

Hasan to Dhawan, FOUR

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Dhawan, no run

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, no run

End of over 24: India 131/0

Amir to Dhawan, SIX

Amir to Dhawan, 2 runs

Amir to Dhawan, no run

Amir to Rohit, 1 run

Amir to Rohit, 2 runs

End of over 23: India 120/0

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, no run

Hasan Ali to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 22: India 119/0

Amir to Rohit, 1 run

Amir to Rohit, 2 runs

Amir to Dhawan, 1 run

Amir to Dhawan, no run

Amir to Dhawan, FOUR

Amir to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 21: India 110/0

Hasan Ali to Sharma, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Sharma, no run

Hasan Ali to Sharma, 2 runs

End of over 20: India 107/0

Shadab to Dhawan, no run

Shadab to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, FOUR

Shadab to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, 1 run

End of over 19: India 99/0

Hasan to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan to Rohit, no run

Hasan to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan to Dhawan, FOUR

Hasan to Rohit, 1 run

Drink time

End of over 18: India 91/0

S Dhawan 50 (56b)

RG Sharma 40 (52b)

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, FOUR

Shadab Khan to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Rohit, no run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, no run

End of over 17: India 85/0

Nawaz to Rohit, FOUR

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Nawaz to Dhawan, no run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, FOUR

End of over 16: India 75/0

Shadab to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab to Rohit, no run

Shadab to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, no run

Shadab to Sharma , 1 run

Shadab to Sharma, no run

End of over 15: India 72/0

Nawaz to Dhawan, no run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Rohit, 2 runs

End of over 14: India 67/0

Shadab to Dhawan, no run

Shadab Khan to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Dhawan, no run

Shadab Khan to Sharma, 1 run

End of over 13: India 64/0

Nawaz to Dhawan, no run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

End of over 12: India 62/0

Shadab to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, 2 runs

Shadab to Dhawan, no run

Shadab to Rohit, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, 1 run

Shadab to Dhawan, no run

End of over 11: India 57/0

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit, 1 run

End of over 10: India 53/0

Amir to Dhawan, FOUR

Amir to Dhawan, no run

Amir to Dhawan, FOUR

Amir to Dhawan, no run

End of over 9: India 45/0

Nawaz to Rohit, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, 1 run

Nawaz to Dhawan, no run

Nawaz to Dhawan, wide, 1 run

Nawaz to Dhawan, no run

End of over 8: India 43/0

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, no run

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, FOUR

Shaheen Afridi to Dhawan, 1 run

Shaheen Afridi to Dhawan, no run

End of over 7: India 38/0

Hasan Ali to Rohit, no run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, FOUR

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, no run

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, FOUR

End of over 6: India 29/0

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, no run

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, DROPPED. Easy chance gone down

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, no run

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, SIX

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, no run

End of over 5: India 23/0

Hasan Ali to Dhawan, no run

Hasan Ali to Rohit, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Rohit, no run

Hasan Ali to Rohit, FOUR

Hasan Ali to Rohit, no run

End of over 4: India 18/0

Shaheen Afridi to Dhawan, no run

Shaheen Afridi to Dhawan, FOUR

Shaheen Afridi to Dhawan, no run

End of over 3: India 14/0

Amir to Dhawan, 1 run

Amir to Dhawan, FOUR

Amir to Dhawan, no run

Amir to Dhawan, 2 runs

Amir to Dhawan, no run

End of over 2: India 7/0

Shaheen Afridi to Rohit, no run

Shaheen Afridi to Dhawan, 1 run

End of over 1: India 6/0

Amir to Sharma, no run

Amir to Dhawan, 3 runs

Amir to Rohit, 1 run

Amir to Rohit, no run

Amir to Rohit, 2 runs

Amir to Rohit, no run

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan begin the chase. Amir with the ball.

Welcome back to Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India is set to begin the chase in a few minutes.

Inning break

Shoaib Malik (78) and Sarfraz Ahmed (44) built a 100-run stand as Pakistan set India 238 to win in a Super Four match of the Asia Cup at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.

Pakistan failed to finish the inning on high after Asif and Malik fell in quick succession. Shadab and Nawaz struggled to put bat on the ball in the final overs.

End of over 50: Pakistan 237/7

Bumrah to Hasan, 1 run

Bumrah to Nawaz, 1 run

Bumrah to Hasan Ali, 1 run

Bumrah to Shadab, OUT

Bumrah to Nawaz, 1 run

Bumrah to Shadab, 1 run

End of over 49: Pakistan 232/6

Kumar to Shadab, 1 run

Kumar to Nawaz, 1 run

Kumar to Shadab, 1 run

Kumar to Shadab, wide, 1 run

Kumar to Nawaz, 1 run

Kumar to Shadab, 1 run

Kumar to Nawaz, 1 run

End of over 48: Pakistan 225/6

Mohammad Nawaz(3) 10 (11b)

Shadab Khan 6 (11b)

Bumrah to Nawaz, 1 run

Bumrah to Nawaz, no run

Bumrah to Shadab, 1 run

Bumrah to Nawaz, 1 run

Bumrah to Shadab, 1 run

End of over 47: Pakistan 221/6

Chahal to Nawaz, FOUR

Chahal to Nawaz, no run

Chahal to Shadab, 1 run

Chahal to Nawaz, 1 runs

Chahal to Nawaz, 2 runs

Chahal to Nawaz, no run

End of over 46: Pakistan 213/6

Bumrah to Shadab, no run

Bumrah to Nawaz, 1 run

Bumrah to Shadab, 1 run

End of over 45: Pakistan 211/6

Chahal to Nawaz, no run

Chahal to Asif, OUT, clean bowled, another big wicket at a crucial time.

Chahal to Shadab, 1 run

Chahal to Asif, 3 runs, gets down for a reverse sweep, has to fetch it from outside his leg stump, miscues it off the top-edge, Kuldeep runs back from backward point and it drops in front of him.

Chahal to Shadab, 1 run

Chahal to Asif, 1 run

End of over 44: Pakistan 205/5

Asif Ali 26 (18b)

Shadab Khan 0 (1b)

Bumrah to Asif, 1 run

Bumrah to Shadab, 1 run

Shadab Khan walks in to bat after Malik is caught behind

Bumrah to Malik, OUT, has he nudged that away to the keeper? Yup, he has. Malik walks off. No review. Huge, huge wicket.

Bumrah to Asif Ali, 1 run

Bumrah to Asif Ali, 2 runs

Bumrah to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

End of over 43: Pakistan 199/4

Shoaib Malik 77 (88b)

Asif Ali 22 (15b)

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Asif, 1 run

Yadav to Asif, no run

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Malik, 2 runs

Yadav to Asif, 1 run

End of over 42: 193/4

Big over for Pakistan, scoring 22 runs

Kumar to Asif, 1 run

Kumar to Asif, SIX

Kumar to Asif, FOUR

Kumar to Asif, SIX

Kumar to Malik, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, FOUR

End of over 41: Pakistan 171/4

Yadav to Asif, no run

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Asif, 1 run

Yadav to Asif, no run

End of over 40: Pakistan 169/4

Kumar to Asif, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, no run

Kumar to Asif Ali, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, no run

End of over 39: Pakistan 165/4

Yadav to Asif Ali, no run

Asif Ali walks in

Yadav to Sarfraz, OUT, plays uppish and straight to Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Sarfraz is out. Poor short by the Pakistani captain who needed to stay till the end.

Yadav to Sarfraz, 2 runs

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Malik, no run

Yadav to Malik, 2 runs

End of over 38: Pakistan 160/3

Shoaib Malik 62 (75b)

Sarfraz Ahmed 42 (64b)

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, no run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 2 runs

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, SIX, huge straight shot for another six.

End of over 37: Pakistan 149/3

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Malik, no run

Yadav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Yadav to Sarfraz, no run

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

End of over 36: Pakistan 146/3

Sarfraz Ahmed 38 (60b)

Shoaib Malik 52 (67b)

Jadeja to Sarfraz, no run

Jadeja to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Shoaib Malik, no run

Jadeja to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz Ahmed, 2 runs

Jadeja to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

It's time for drinks

End of over 35: Pakistan 141/3

Sarfraz Ahmed 35 (57b)

Shoaib Malik 50 (64b)

Kumar to Sarfraz Ahmed, no run

Kumar to Malik, 1 run, 50 for Malik

Kumar to Sarfraz, 1 run

Kumar to Sarfraz, no run

Kumar to Malik, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, no run

End of over 34: Pakistan 138/3

Shoaib Malik 47 (60b)

Sarfraz Ahmed 31 (49b)

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 2 runs

Jadeja to Sarfraz, no run

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, no run

End of over 33: Pakistan 134/3

Kumar to Malik, no run

Kumar to Sarfraz, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, 1 run

Kumar to Malik, no run

End of over 32: Pakistan 132/3

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, no run

Chahal to Malik, 2 runs

Chahal to Malik, no run

Chahal to Sarfraz, 1 run

End of over 31: Pakistan 128/3

Jadhav to Malik, FOUR, a very good over for Pakistan.

Jadhav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadhav to Sarfraz Ahmed, FOUR

Jadhav to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Jadhav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadhav to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

End of over 30: Pakistan 116/3

Chahal to Sarfraz, no run

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Sarfraz, 1 run

Chahal to Sarfraz, no run

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, no run

End of over 29: Pakistan 113/3

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

Jadhav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

Jadhav to Malik, no run

Jadhav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

End of over 28: Pakistan 108/3

Shoaib Malik 32 (40b)

Sarfraz Ahmed 20 (39b)

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, SIX, towering six by Shoaib!

Chahal to Malik, no run

Chahal to Sarfraz, 1 run

Chahal to Malik, 1 run

End of over 27: Pakistan 99/3

Jadhav to Sarfraz, no run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

Jadhav to Safraz, 1 run

Jadhav to Malik, 1 run

Kedar Jadhav to Malik, no run

Jadhav gets the ball.

End of over 26: Pakistan 96/3

Jadeja to Sarfraz, no run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 2 runs

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

End of over 25: Pakistan 92/3

Yadav to Malik, no run

Yadav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Yadav to Sarfraz, no run

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Malik, no run

End of over 24: Pakistan 90/3

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, FOUR

Jadeja to Malik, no run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, no run

End of over 23: Pakistan 83/3

Yadav to Sarfraz, no run, very good over, given only one run

Yadav to Sarfraz, no run, four dot balls, pressure building up

Yadav to Sarfraz, no run

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

End of over 22: Pakistan 82/3

Jadeja to Sarfraz, FOUR

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, no run

End of over 21: Pakistan 75/3

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Malik, no run

Yadav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Yadav to Malik, 1 run

Yadav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Yadav to Sarfraz, no run

End of over 20: Pakistan 71/3

Shoaib Malik 9 (14b)

Sarfraz Ahmed 6 (17b)

Jadeja to Malik, no run

Jadeja to Malik, FOUR

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

End of over 19: Pakistan 65/3

Bumrah to Sarfraz, no run

Bumrah to Malik, 1 run

Bumrah to Malik, no run

End of over 18: Pakistan 64/3

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, no run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

Jadeja to Malik, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, 1 run

End of over 17: Pakistan 60/3

Bumrah to Malik, no run

Bumrah to Sarfraz, 1 run

Bumrah to Sarfraz, no run

Bumrah to Malik, 1 run

End of over 16: Pakistan 58/3

Jadeja to Sarfraz, no run

Shoaib Malik walks in

Jadeja to Sarfraz, OUT, Babar gets himself run out

Jadeja to Babar, 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz 1 run

Jadeja to Sarfraz, no run

End of over 15: Pakistan 56/2

Yadav to Babar, no run

Yadav to Sarfraz, 1 run

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed walks in

Yadav to Fakhar, OUT, LBW given. Fakhar walks back to pavilion after scoring 31.

Yadav to Fakhar, FOUR

Yadav to Babar, 1 run

End of over 14: Pakistan 50/1

Chahal to Fakhar, 2 runs

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run

Chahal to Fakhar, no run

End of over 13: Pakistan 44/1

Yadav to Babar, no run

Yadav to Fakhar, 1 run

Yadav to Fakhar, SIX, monstrous shot by Fakhar for six.

Yadav to Babar, 1 run

End of over 12: Pakistan 35/1

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, no run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run

Chahal to Fakhar, no run

End of over 11: Pakistan 31/1

Yadav to Babar, no run

Yadav to Imam, 1 run

Yadav to Babar, 1 run

Yadav to Babar, no run

Kuldeep Yadav to Fakhar, 1 run

End of over 10: 28/1

Chahal to Babar, no run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run, risky shot, just missed the fielder

Chahal to Babar, 1 run

Chahal to Babar, no run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run

End of over 9: Pakistan 25/1

Bumrah to Babar, no run

Bumrah to Babar Azam, no run

Bumrah to Fakhar, 1 run

End of over 8: Pakistan 24/1

Chahal to Imam, no run, LBW call. Review has been taken. OUT, big blow for Pakistan as in-f0rm Imam ul Haq falls.

Chahal to Imam, no run

Chahal to Fakhar, 1 run

Chahal to Fakhar, no run

Chahal to Fakhar, 2 runs

Chahal to Fakhar, no run

Yuzvendra Chahal brought into the attack

End of over 7: Pakistan 21/0

Kumar to Imam, no run

Kumar to Fakhar, 1 run

Kumar to Fakhar, no run

End of over 6: Pakistan 20/0

Bumrah to Imam, no run

Bumrah to Imam, FOUR, amazing shot for four runs

Bumrah to Imam, no run

Bumrah to Fakhar, 1 run

Bumrah to Fakhar, no run

End of over 5: Pakistan 15/0

Kumar to Fakhar, 1 run

Kumar to Fakhar, no run

Kumar to Fakhar, 2 runs, edge gets Fakhar 2 runs

Kumar to Fakhar, no run

End of over 4: Pakistan 12/0

Bumrah to Imam, dot ball

Bumrah to Imam, no run

Bumrah to Imam, FOUR, whatashot!

Bumrah to Imam, no run

End of over 3: Pakistan 8/0

Kumar to Fakhar, no run

Kumar to Fakhar, swing and miss, no run

Kumar to Imam, 1 run

Kumar to Imam, no run

End of over 2: Pakistan 7/0

Bumran to Fakhar, no run. A maiden over. Fakhar is struggling to middle the bowl after two consecutive naughts.

Bumrah to Fakhar, no run

Bumrah to Fakhar, no run, another dot ball

Bumrah to Fakhar, no run

End of over 1: Pakistan 7/0

Imam-ul-Haq 1 (2b)

Fakhar Zaman 1 (4b)

Kumar to Imam, no run

Kumar to Fakhar, 1 run

Kumar to Fakhar, FOUR, bye

Kumar to Fakhar, no run

Kumar to Imam, 1 run, sharp single. Direct hit but Imam is home.

Kumar to Imam, wide, 1 run. Pakistan off to the mark with a wide.

Imam to face the first bowl from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Imam ul Haq, Fakhar Alam to open the batting for Pakistan as all is set for a thrilling contest. Cheers from crows as players take to the field.

Two teams line up for national anthems.

DUBAI: Pakistan’s skipper Sarfraz Ahmed on Sunday won toss and decided to bat against India in Asia Cup 2018 Super Four match.

Pakistan made two changes with Shadab Khan and Mohammad Amir making their way back into the squad in place of Haris Sohail and Usman Shinwari respectively in today’s important match.

Squads

IND XI: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, A Rayudu, MS Dhoni, D Karthik, K Jadhav, R Jadeja, B Kumar, K Yadav, Y Chahal, J Bumrah

India thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets with 21 overs to spare in their last encounter and will take confidence from that win into Sunday's game at Dubai International Stadium.

On Friday, Pakistan narrowly avoided another crushing defeat when Sarfraz Ahmed's team beat Afghanistan in its opening Super Four match with just three balls to spare in Abu Dhabi. While, India easily beat Bangladesh by seven wickets.

Going into the Asia Cup, Pakistan were looking like a more balanced side as compared to Virat Kohli-less India. But in the Pool A game last week, Pakistan were just hammered by their rivals.

However, India, despite coming across as the tournament’s strongest team following three consecutive wins, would be wary of Pakistan.

Pakistan have this ability to bounce back and the who would know that better than the Indians.

After missing Friday’s game, a fit-again Shadab Khan is expected to return to the line-up. But it remains to be seen whether Pakistan will bring back their out-of-form pacer Mohammad Amir. The left-armer was dropped for the game against Afghanistan after a series of failures.

Azhar Mahmood, Pakistan’s bowling coach, didn’t answer that question but was quick to add that his bowling attack remains potent.

“Overall, I’m happy how our bowlers have performed in this tournament,” the former Pakistan all-rounder said on the eve of the eagerly-awaited encounter.

“In the big match tomorrow our target would be to take early wickets because that’s the way to put your opposition under pressure,” he added.

Azhar was confident that his team won’t repeat the mistakes it committed in Wednesday defeat against India.

The Indians, meanwhile, have the momentum.

Stand-in captain Rohit Sharma is in sublime form and the triumphant return of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has boosted the line-up. Jadeja, playing for the first time in almost 14 months, took four wickets in Friday night’s comfortable win against Bangladesh.

India will look to the pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah to make the initial breakthroughs and put Pakistan on the back foot before the spinners are introduced.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are the two mainline spinners, but it was Kedar Jadhav, who picked up the most number of wickets among the slow bowlers in the last game against Pakistan.

A fresh pitch will be used for this game, with the curator promising greater pace and bounce than has been evident in the tournament so far. That will be welcome news to Pakistan, who draw their bowling strength from their battery of pacers. The heat continues to be the enduring issue, and both sides will be eager to put the other in the field under the blazing sun. Pitches are slow, and swing is in short supply, so expect plenty of overs to be bowled by the spinners.

Squads (likely):

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi/Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (captain), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Kedhar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

Asia Cup 2018: India thrash listless Pakistan

DUBAI: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan struck blistering centuries as India thrashed Pakistan by 9 wickets in a match of Super Four stage of Asia Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.

INDIA 238/1 in 39.3 overs (Pakistan 237/7 in 50 overs)

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