|
|
Change Your Life! |
India and Pakistan clash in a battle of willow in Dhaka arena today |
|
News |
June 3, 2000
Dhaka, June 2 (UNB) – Inveterate rivals India and Pakistan clash in a battle of willow in Dhaka arena today (Saturday) in the 7th Asia Cup Cricket Tournament.
The day-night encounter starts at 2:30pm at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, the venue for the region’s gala cricket tournament.
A match between the two old foes is branded always as special momentous for cricket crazy fans in the subcontinent.
Specially, it will be a do-or-die fight for India if to set foot in the final as they are now back-foot thumped by defending champions Sri Lanka in the previous match.
Pakistan has good deed in record book against their rivals and put various feathers in their cap, but are yet to win the region’s prestigious title appearing on five occasions.
On the other hand, India, who collected two points beating hosts Bangladesh, has also good record in Asia Cup clinching home the cup four times.
This is a hunting ranch for India as they earlier triumphed two trophies—3rd Asia Cup and Independence Cup-from Dhaka.
The situation was same in the 3rd Asia Cup tourney when India had needed win against Pakistan to reach the final, and they did it.
Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly expressed his optimism after swallowing a bitter pill—a 71-run defeat against Sri Lanka--that they should come back to reach the final.
Ganguly, the lone Bengali player in the Indian squad, blamed irresponsible batting performance for the drubbing and believed that his “willow-holders will sparkle in the right time”.
But it was also observed that the Indian bowling attack is totally fragile in absence of experienced pace-duo in the tournament against their two mighty opponents.
Conversely, former world champions Pakistan have hostile bowling attack with ace Wasim Akram, the highest wicket-taker in one-day international.
For the Indians it will be too hot to face the Pakistani aggressive bowling attack, despite two spin-wizard’s absence from the squad.
Moreover, inclusion of southpaw batsman Saeed Anwar and all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who missed the Caribbean tour, helped bolstering the Pakistani batting lineup.
Pakistan captain-cum-wicket-keeper Moin Khan also believed that Saeed, who has world record with 194 runs, is a key player in his team and a world-class batsman.
The Pakistani captain thinks his boys’ morale “is very high and they are desperate to overcome the title drought in the Asia Cup”.
Pakistan is now in good form after winning two one-day tournaments although they lost last test match against West Indies in a very competitive game.
He conceded that India is a very strong side in the four-nation tourney and very serious to win the Asia Cup.
Previous results of India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup:
First Asia Cup in Sharjah: India beat Pakistan by 54 runs (India—188/4 in 46 overs, Pakistan—134/10 in 39.4 overs).
Third Asia Cup in Dhaka: India won by four wickets (Pakistan—142/10 in 42.2 overs, India—143/6 in 40.4 overs).
Fifth Asia Cup in Sharjah: Pakistan won by 97 runs (Pakistan—266/9 in 50 overs, India—169/10 in 42.4 overs).
Sixth Asia Cup in Colombo: Didn’t hold owing to rain.
|