Emotions usually run high whenever India and Pakistan meet in stadiums packed to the rafters and resounding with jingoistic slogan-shouting.
Pakistan has started the tournament on a strong note as they beat qualifiers Hong Kong on Monday. However, the pressure of the match with India is on a different level.
Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed aims to win the tournament and not just a match against India. He has told his teammates to treat every game like an India-Pakistan game.
India's Kuldeep Yadav, second right, celebrates the dismissal of Hong Kong's Scott McKechnie during the one day international cricket match of Asia Cup in Dubai Source: AAP
"Talking about pressure, obviously there is always pressure when it comes to an India-Pakistan match. We have told our players that, not just with a match, but think of every match like an India-Pakistan if you want to win this event. Pressure will be there, but we will try to keep aside the pressure and perform well," Sarfraz Ahmed said.
India will be without their regular captain Virat Kohli. The team struggled against a comparatively weaker Hongkong on Tuesday after posting a total 285/7. Hongkong gave a courageous chase scoring 259 runs in 50 overs.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who admits he's a little nervous, says he knows his team well.
"As a captain or as a player you want your team to be settled, and you know, even the guys who are eyeing for that spot, you know, want to be settled because nobody likes to be dropped and brought back into the squad. We want everyone to be feeling you know, safe and settled so that you know; they can play freely.
"Right now, I think, you know, looking at all the guys who are eyeing for that spot, mentally they look fresh, and they are raring to go and yeah so I guess they are just a performance away from you know, making their claim for that particular spot," Sharma said speaking to the journalists.
Sports Journalist and Editor of InsideSport. Co, Rajendra Kumar Sharma, told SBS Urdu the recent performance of India does not tell the whole story as both the white ball and red ball games were different and the conditions were not the same.
Members of Indian team leave the ground after their win over Hong Kong in their one day international cricket match of Asia Cup in Dubai. Source: AAP
“India played a competitive game during the limited over matches. Similarly, during England series, we lost but played a competitive game. Now, when India will come back and play in the Middle East, the conditions will be different, and they will play with a white ball. The Indian record in sub-continent is very good," said Rajendra Kumar Sharma.
In the past eight years, India has had a 5-2 win-loss equation against Pakistan in ODIs.
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