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SPORTS AUGUST 26, 2022 | The Indian Eye 46

ASIA CUP 2022

India-Pakistan rivalry back in focus

as Virat Kohli faces an acid test

Asia Cup 2022 will be played in UAE, starting from August 27 through September 11. The six teams are divided into two
groups with India, Pakistan and a qualifying team in Group A. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in Group B

OUR BUREAU

Mumbai/Dubai
ndia and Pakistan will reignite
their cricketing rivalry after a
Inine-month gap when the two
arch-rivals meet each other in the
Asia Cup 2022 on August 28.
A blockbuster tie can also hap-
pen between the two sides in the Su-
per 4 stage of the tournament. The
last meeting between the two teams
was during the T20I World Cup 2021
when Pakistan registered 10-wicket
victory chasing a target of 151.
The Asia Cup will feature two
groups. The first group will see India,
Pakistan and a qualifying team squar-
ing off against each other while, the
second group has Sri Lanka, Bangla-
desh and Afghanistan.
The Indian team sits on top of
the ICC T20I rankings while Pakistan
is ranked third. There is a high pos-
sibility of the two teams advancing
from the group stage to Super 4s and
making their way to the final. Virat Kohli (ANI)
India and Pakistan have met in
the Asia Cup 14 times, out of which
India has managed to emerge victo- two teams facing each other in the Men) for the upcoming ACC Asia from Super 4 will qualify for the final.
rious eight times while Pakistan has final of the Asia Cup. Cup 2022 to be played in the UAE. India is the defending champion,
pipped India five times and one game Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Ban- VVS Laxman, who travelled with having won the 2018 edition of the
ended without a result. gladesh are no pushovers and they the Indian team that played the ODI tournament and its seventh title. It is
Nothing compares to the fierce have proved it in the previous edi- series in Zimbabwe will oversee the the most successful team in the tour-
rivalry between India and Pakistan tions of the tournament. team’s preparation in the absence of nament’s history.
and the matches have a global appeal. India has won the Asia Cup most Rahul Dravid, who tested positive for I KNOW WHERE MY GAME
Two teams each from Group A number of times (7), while Sri Lan- COVID-19 before the team’s depar- STANDS: KOHLI
and Group B are to advance to the ka has won it five times, and Pakistan ture to the UAE. “Dravid will join
Super 4s.. Barring any surprising per- has managed to grab it twice. the team once he tests negative and is he tournament presents an op-
formance from the other qualifying In terms of the history of the cleared by the BCCI Medical Team,” portunity to Virat Kohli to get
teams, the two sides are expected to Asia Cup, the first competition took BCCI said in a release on Wednes- Tback to form and improve his
lock horns again on September 4 to place in the United Arab Emirates day. international rankings. Kohli has had
ascertain the top two teams in the Su- in 1984, with India and Sri Lanka Rahul Dravid tested positive for time to reflect on his performance
per 4 phase. playing each other in the finals. The COVID-19 in a routine test conduct- and to understand his game better
Since there are no knockout Men in Blue were the first Asia Cup ed ahead of the team’s departure to ahead of his T20I against Pakistan.
matches and the top two teams in Su- champions. the UAE for the T20I tournament. This will be his 100th T20I. With fans
per 4s will advance to the final, there VVS LAXMAN NAMED Dravid is under the supervision around the world looking for ‘King
is a possibility that it could be India INTERIM HEAD COACH of the BCCI Medical team and has Kohli’ to return to his best, all eyes
and Pakistan. The final is slated for mild symptoms. will be on him to help India to their
September 11. oard of Control for Cricket in Each team plays the other once record eighth Asia Cup title.
If the two teams manage to reach India on Wednesday named in the group stage with the top two Virat Kohli talked about his men-
the finals of the Asia Cup in this edi- BVVS Laxman as the interim teams from each group advancing to tal approach and how he has been
Continued at next page... >>
tion, it will be the first instance of the head coach for Team India (Senior the Super 4 round. The top 2 teams Continued at next page... >>

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