Pakistan cricket team will be seeking revenge against India in the Super Four round encounter today. Both teams met in the group match in which India comprehensively beat Pakistan, by eight wickets.

The two teams faced each other in the Asia Cup for the first time in the United Arab Emirates in 2006. Before the Asia Cup, the last time the two arch-rivals played was the final of the Champions Trophy in England last year where Pakistan thrashed India by 180 runs.

If we have a look at the recent form, India have come to the UAE having lost ODI and Test series in England. On the other hand, Pakistan won their ODI series against Zimbabwe 5-0.

Pakistan started the ongoing Asia Cup as favourites and won the first match against qualifiers Hong Kong by eight wickets. India too beat Hong Kong, but after a great struggle. They won by only 26 runs.

India have been the most successful side in the Asia Cup, having won the title six times. Pakistan have won only twice.

Due to India’s inconsistent performance, experts from both the countries believed that Pakistan were the favourites in the game against India. Former Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar substantiated this view, not least because of the absence of Virat Kohli.

Gavaskar said: "Pakistan are favourites only because the big psychological advantage that they have of beating India in the final of the Champions Trophy. The previous game or the ball before always remains at the back of your mind and that creates a touch of uncertainty in your mind."

Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said India could lift the Asia Cup, but tipped Pakistan as the favourites because they have been playing in the UAE regularly as their home ground and know the conditions better than any other team.

Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev also supported the view, citing Pakistan’s strength and variety in bowling.

Before the Asia Cup, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was also confident. He expressed satisfaction over the preparation of the team.

But all the predictions went wrong. The Green-shirts wilted under pressure in the group match.

Despite winning the toss on a batting pitch, Pakistan openers adopted a defensive strategy against a bowling attack which had failed to take a single wicket till the 34th over against Hong Kong the other day.

Both openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq started the innings against their natural aggressive style and when both of them took chances, they threw their wickets away. The scoreboard showed 3-2 in 4.1 overs.

After facing seven deliveries for two runs, Imam advanced down the pitch to heave Bhuvneshwar Kumar and gifted his wicket while trying to play over the fielders.

It was the first occasion after three consecutive 50-plus scores when Imam got out in a single digit. It was also the first instance when Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for a duck in international cricket after playing 9 dot balls.

Except Shoaib Malik and Babar Azam, no batsman looked comfortable against India’s  bowling and tight fielding. Excluding Babar Azam who was bowled on a beautiful delivery by Kuldeep Yadav, all batsmen, including skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, gifted their wickets while trying to hit the ball outside the ground.

Pakistan were bowled out for just 162 runs. A day earlier Hong Kong openers had provided 174 runs stand in 34 overs against India.

It was Pakistan’s lowest score in the UAE. They played as many as 158 dot balls out of 258. This was the reason batsmen threw their wickets away trying to raise the run rate. The Green-shirts surrendered as if they were playing in unfamiliar conditions.

Pakistan’s famed bowling attack also failed to take early wickets. No doubt 162 was not a good total, but a couple of early wickets could have created some pressure on the Indian team.

Playing with four seamers was a surprise decision as on the UAE’s slow pitches spinners mostly dominate the game.

Pakistani fast bowlers, Amir, Hasan and Usman, failed to create any impression on the pitch where Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 15-3 in 7.1 overs and Jasprit Bumrah 23-2 in 7.1 overs.

Before today’s Super Four clash, Pakistan and India faced each other in the Asia Cup 13 times. India had the upper hand with seven wins. The Green-shirts remained victorious on five occasions.

Today it’s time for the men in green to leave the previous match result behind. The openers must play their natural game and provide a solid foundation for the middle order to post a massive total.

If Pakistan take revenge of the group match, it will give confidence to the Green-shirts for the next matches, particularly if the two sides meet in the final on September 28.

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