Pakistan Focused on Asia Cup, Not Just India Match
On Saturday, Pakistani batter Saim Ayub emphasized that the team’s primary goal is not solely the upcoming match against India but the overall victory in the men’s Asia Cup.
The highly anticipated showdown between the two rival teams is set to take place in Dubai on Sunday, marking their first encounter since a brief military conflict in May between the nuclear neighbors.
Despite India being the reigning T20 world champions and favorites to defend their title, Pakistan comes into this match with confidence after a convincing win against Afghanistan in the tri-series final.
At a pre-match press conference in Dubai, Saim stated, “We are not just looking forward to the Pakistan-India match; we are focused on winning the tournament.” He reiterated the importance of the current competition.
Regarding Pakistan’s aggressive batting style against India’s formidable bowling attack, Saim remarked, “The emphasis is on playing fearless cricket against all opponents.” Captain Salman Ali Agha echoed this sentiment after a strong win over Oman, noting that good performance in recent months positions them well to take on any team.
Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson downplayed concerns regarding the batting lineup, highlighting their ability to defeat top-quality bowling, as demonstrated in their recent victory against Afghanistan. He expressed confidence in their developing batting unit.
India Urged to Set Aside Emotions
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate suggested that players need to compartmentalize their emotions. He acknowledged that public sentiment surrounding the rivalry could weigh on them, though emphasized the importance of focusing on the game.
Ten Doeschate recognized India as the favorites based on recent form. He added that the team has done thorough preparation, especially after Pakistan’s lineup changes with star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan not participating.
As political tensions remain high following the May clashes, with calls for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott the match, the focus now shifts to the game itself. Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak conveyed that the team’s priority is to play cricket, independent of the political situation.
The T20 Asia Cup kicked off this week, featuring eight nations. Pakistan, India, Oman, and UAE compose Group A, while Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, culminating in the final on September 28 in Dubai.
