*DUBAI – Rival captains Sarfraz Ahmed and Rohit Sharma played down the hypesurrounding the much-awaited India-Pakistan clash in Dubai on Wednesday,insisting that the Asia Cup is much more than a contest between thearch-rivals.*
But despite their claims, millions of fans across the border and elsewherein the world will be watching the Group A clash, with a sold out25,000-crowd expected at Dubai Stadium.
The game is the first between the sub-continent rivals since Pakistanthumped India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Ovalin June last year.
The two teams are facing each other for the first time in the United ArabEmirates since 2006, the last of their regular matches which were also heldin Sharjah between 1984-2000.
Sarfraz, who led Pakistan in that memorable Champions Trophy triumph,denied that his team will have a psychological advantage.
“We will not take that Champions Trophy win in our minds,” said Sarfraz onMonday, a day after his team thumped qualifiers Hong Kong in their firstmatch of the tournament.
“That was a different atmosphere (in London) and conditions. It was a yearago so that’s history so we will enter the ground with a new strategy andpassion.”
India will also meet Hong Kong in Dubai on Tuesday to tune up for the bigmatch.
*India without Kohli*
India’s regular captain and world-class batsman Virat Kohli has been restedfor the competition to help his aching back after a gruelling tour ofEngland.
But Sarfraz refused to accept Kohli’s absence will make much difference.
“No doubt he (Kohli) is their captain and a world-class batsman but I thinkthey (India) have a good team even without Kohli.
“They have good players who have done well for India. So I don’t think itwill make much difference to India. Their batting is very strong so I cansay that it will be a good match.”
Sarfraz has told his players just to enjoy the occasion.
“My message to the players is not to bother about the result and do (their)best and when you do that you get a positive result in all matches becausethere are five other teams as well,” he said.
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Five-time Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are inGroup B.
India have won the event — which started in 1984 — six times, whilePakistan have been champions twice.
Two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, with thetop two to reach the September 28 final.
So barring any upsets against Hong Kong, India and Pakistan will also faceoff again in the Super Four on September 23.
India skipper Sharma said his team will be looking beyond Pakistan.
“It’s always exciting to play Pakistan, but it’s not about one team aswell. There are other teams also eyeing the title,” said Sharma, who hasthe rare record of scoring three one-day international double hundreds.
*Searing UAE heat*
All six teams have to endure extreme hot conditions in the UAE, with thetemperature scaling to over 40 degrees Celsius and expected to rise furtherin the coming days.
Sharma said his side will get a chance to assess the conditions in theirmatch against Hong Kong.
“Once we finish the first game we will look at Pakistan, what theirstrengths and weaknesses are. Looking at the pitch, I think we have theperfect combination and the guys to do the job.
“A few players have come from England so it’s going to be a challenge forthem.
“For the rest of us, we have been here for the last four days so I canprobably say we are very much used to the conditions.
“It’s game time, so we have to focus on the game rather than theconditions.” – APP/AFP
