Asia Cup Cricket - @ Sri Lanka

BITTER RIVALS IN NEEDLE TIE

India, Pakistan Take On Each Other In Vital Asia Cup Match

Dambulla: There is an India vs Pakistan cricket clash coming up on Saturday after a long gap and naturally back home football will take a break. Cricket fans have waited long to see the south Asian neighbours play each other and the on going Asia Cup here is giving them just the impetus.

       Both India and Pakistan look charged up for the key clash as this is only the second match between them after 26/11. That is why the added excitement about the match. The last time when they met at the Champions Trophy, India lost tamely by 54 runs to Pakistan. Memories of that defeat must haunt the Indian time now, before they play Pakistan, if they have to exact revenge.

      The Pakistanis are also taking this match very seriously. Captain Shahid Afridi and his men realize the importance of winning this game. The result of this match will have a bearing on the finalists. The Indians, having secured one victory already in the series with a bonus point, are not as badly placed as the Pakistanis who could stay in the competition with a win.

       There are old scored to settle as well/ For instance, the famous Shoab Akhtar versus Virender Sehwag battle of bat and ball is something not just south Asians, but cricket lovers from across the world enjoy watching. In fact, Akhtar and Sehwag's competition is symbolic of how the Pakistan pace bowlers have always been the perfect foil for India's attacking batsmen. The Pakistani pace duo of Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have reportedly chalked out plans to dimsiss Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir early so that they would be able to test the depth of the Indian middle-order and younngsters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the absence of Yunraj Singh.

       The match excites fans because the Pakistanis tend to be an unpredictable side. Just as they've snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, they've also lost unexpectedly many a time. For instance, during the last match against the Lankans, Pakistan lost from a winning position. Luckily, for them, skipper Afridi has recovered well from cramps and is fit for the match. Pakistan's weakness is their middle-order which the Indians will try to exploit to their own advantage. Barring Afridi and Shoaigb Malik, the middle-order consists of new faces. According to team sources, Pakistan may bring in Imran Farhat to replace opener Shahzaib Hasan in the playing eleven. Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal will open the innings with Salman Butt.