By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Pace bowling great Wasim Akram called on cricketers from India and Pakistan to block out the external pressures and savour the occasion when the nuclear-armed neighbours meet in a tense Asia Cup T20 Group A match on Sunday.
The fixture at Dubai International Cricket Stadium marks the first on-field encounter between the sides since a four-day military conflict in May plunged relations to their lowest ebb in decades, despite an internationally brokered ceasefire that averted all-out war.
“Enjoy, it’s a game of cricket,” the legendary left-armer told AFP ahead of what could be the first of up to three meetings between the teams in the eight-nation tournament, including potential Super Four and final clashes.
“Forget about everything other than cricket. One team will win, and one team will lose,” he said. “Just enjoy the moment if you win the game. Pressure will come, enjoy that and show discipline because this is just a game. It’s for both teams and for both sets of fans.”
Organisers anticipate a full house of 25,000 at the neutral venue, where Akram – now 59 – drew on his own experiences of high-stakes India clashes during a 19-year international career that included leading a Pakistan tour to India in 1999 amid extremist threats and playing through the near-war tensions of the 1987 series.
“I enjoyed every game against India, and so did players from the opposition,” Akram said.
He counselled an inexperienced Pakistan squad, fresh off a 93-run opening win over Oman on Friday, to keep perspective amid the hype of facing T20 World Cup champions India, who romped to victory over hosts United Arab Emirates in just 4.3 overs on Wednesday after bowling them out for 57.
“Pakistan have a chance as they won a tri-series last week,” Akram said, referring to their recent T20 success with Afghanistan and the UAE. “They should not think that we just need to win against India, think of winning the Asia Cup,” he added. “You can lose to a big team but even then, stand up and play well in the tournament. I don’t think the match will be one-sided like India against UAE. Anything can happen in this tournament.”
The Indian government’s pre-tournament stance cleared multilateral encounters against Pakistan, dashing expectations among some that the post-conflict chill would extend to such events.
India’s assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak echoed the sentiment from the opposing camp, insisting his players were tuned in solely to the cricket despite the swelling boycott clamour in India, where fans have vented fury at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for proceeding with the fixture.
“Once we are here to play, we are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think there is anything on my mind apart from playing cricket. That is what we are focusing on,” Kotak told reporters in Dubai on Friday. “I think for players and us, once the BCCI says and they are aligned with the government, we are here to prepare and play. It will be a competitive game. India versus Pakistan is always competitive, so we would rather focus on that.”
The off-field static has already spilled over, with India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav facing online trolling this week after footage emerged of him shaking hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha and Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi at a captains’ media event.
Yadav had earlier expressed his side’s anticipation for the matchup following the UAE win. For fans and observers, Sunday’s game carries weight beyond the Group A table stakes, with Group B comprising Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Bangladesh.
The top two from each group advance to the Super Four stage, culminating in the final back in Dubai on Sept. 28. “
The bilateral calendar has lain dormant since the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, leaving these Asia Cup collisions as rare flashpoints in a rivalry that routinely draws global audiences exceeding those of many major sports events.
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