India-Pak rivalry minus fizz

Dubai, September 22

Brimming with confidence after successive wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh, a confident India will once again aim to brush aside arch-rivals Pakistan when the two sides clash in their Super-4 tie of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

The Men in Blue are in a sublime touch and after an average show against Hong Kong in their campaign opener, the Rohit Sharma-led side registered convincing victories against Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

The last time when the two sides met, the Sarfraz Ahmed-led Pakistan side had no answer to the Indian bowling attack as the issue became a completely one-sided affair with India dominating in each department of the game.

Rohit will be eyeing another top-level show from his bowlers and batsmen, including himself. The skipper is in good touch with the bat, amassing 158 runs from three innings while opener Shikhar Dhawan too looks in fine form, putting 213 runs in three games.

Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu have also delivered decent performances in the middle-order and stumper MS Dhoni looked good during his 33 off 37 balls against Bangladesh on Friday. In the bowling department, Ravindra Jadeja blew away Bangladesh’s middle-order, scalping four wickets for just 29 runs.

Pace bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have also been phenomenal. Wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal did not get any wickets against Bangladesh but the duo managed to keep the pressure on the opposition. 

Pakistan will need to come up with something special to stop a spirited India.  Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman and strike bowler Mohammad Amir’s lack of form is a cause of concern for the team. — IANS 

Hasan, Asghar, Rashid fined 15 per cent of their fee 

Pakistan all-rounder Hasan Ali along with Afghanistan duo of Asghar Afghan and Rashid Khan have been fined 15 per cent of their match fees for different incidents during their Super-4 match in the Asia Cup. They have also received one demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Afghanistan skipper had brushed his shoulder with Hasan as he passed him while taking a run when he was bowling the 37th over. The incident involving Hasan happened in the 33rd over of Afghanistan’s innings when he threatened to throw the ball towards striker Hashmatullah Shahidi off his own bowling. Rashid was charged and fined for giving a send-off to Asif Ali in the 47th over of Pakistan innings. — PTI

Ind vs Pak: Where have the thrillers gone?

There have been only 2 last-over thrillers in the last 10 years of India-Pak ODIs. Only one 1-wicket win since 2008! India have won 10 and lost 7 ODIs in this period, so the rivalry isn’t one-sided — but the matches have been. 14 of the 17 matches have been one-sided.