DUBAI: The scorching heat died down on Saturday evening as a light breeze swept through the ICC academy as India and Pakistan showed up for training on the eve of their European Cup opener ‘Asia.
It’s the game Asian Cricket Council (ACC) focuses on the production of heat and income. Every second taxi driver talks about this marquee light. The buzz is undeniable.
India-Pakistan encounters have always attracted large investments. Over the past decade, the rivalry has become more intense as the two teams only meet in multinational tournaments these days. This is why the organizers have assured that they will meet at least twice in the tournament here – three times if they both qualify for the 9/11 final.
Essentially, authorities have turned the continental event into a now elusive bilateral series, even as the two countries are still trying to bring about a thaw in diplomatic relations. Administrators, even at the ICC, tried to create opportunities to pit these two against each other in marquee tournaments. And they managed to do so after 2013. It is claimed that the draws are largely dominated by the urge to boost the financial environment of the game.
India’s history at the Asian Cup
The current climate of international cricket is hostile. Domestic T20 leagues are chipping away at the schedule, generating money more easily for tips. At a time when bilateral series, especially ODIs, are seeing declining interest from players and fans, this T20 edition of the Asian Cup could become a marker of how the international game could be handled at the future. Multiple teams vying for a group of two marquee teams – who rarely meet – attracting fans and advertisers, is a recipe for instant success.
More sugar than spice
The routine build-up of clashes between India and Pakistan over the centuries has sucked in the spice and a bit of hostility from either side. Those who have followed both teams’ practices here over the past three days have been overwhelmed by the camaraderie between the players. Images of Shaheen Afridi with Rishabh Pants and Yuzvendra Chahal have spread like wildfire on the internet. They shared the training ground and exchanged pleasantries throughout their sessions. Usually captains downplay the hype by talking about the camaraderie between the two teams in the pre-game press conference.
Here’s what the Hitman had to say 🎤 ahead of India 🇮🇳 vs Pakistan 🇵🇰 🏏#INDvPAK #ACC #AsiaCup2022 … https://t.co/5svN2hWB4a
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) 1661630068000
“Those things have always been there. We’ve been playing against Pakistan for so long. We’ve always had younger guys in the squad who are now doing the same thing,” Rohit Sharma said on Saturday.
“We talk to all the oppositions. It’s a normal thing. We talk about different topics besides cricket. The India-Pakistan match is enjoyed by people all over the world. The main thing is that as a team and player, we take advantage of the day to play cricket better,” Babar Azam nodded.
Pakistani skipper 🇵🇰, Babar Azam 🎤 is confident in the aggressiveness of the team’s young leaders 💪🏼 #INDvPAK #ACC… https://t.co/sPrh0vUzIw
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) 1661629435000
Going from the last tie of the T20 WC Bring up the last encounter in the same place couldn’t extract a sassy reaction from either captain either. India’s 10-wicket loss to Pakistan at the T20 World Cup last November, their first defeat against rivals in World Cup history, has been safely locked in the closet, for the moment.
“Winning gives us some confidence. But that’s in the past. There’s no point thinking about it. Conditions have changed and a lot of things are different now. It’s a new game,” Babar replied dryly. .
How India and Pakistan fared at the Asian Cup
Rohit, however, conceded the previous loss was talked about but there is no complex. “The mood in the camp is buzzing. A new tournament and a new start. Not thinking about what happened in the past. We talk about our losses. We try to correct mistakes. It’s a new beginning. October was a long time ago,” said the India captain.
As Rohit left for a light optional training, the Pakistani team lasted nearly three hours.
Both captains tried to calm nerves on the eve of the match, but the Dubai International Stadium going to generate a lot of heat on Sunday evening.
