India and Pakistan to play on August 28 in Asia Cup in Dubai.
The two sides will begin their tournament, which begins on August 27 in UAE, and on August 28 in Dubai. Since these two teams don't play bilaterally currently, Asia Cup and ICC events are the only instances where India plays Pakistan.
Notably, India is the defending champion of the tournament as they had won the T20 format Asia Cup in 2016 and then the ODI format Asia Cup in 2018. There is a possibility of India and Pakistan playing thrice in the Asia Cup 2022 and Babar Azam was asked about the same and whether Pakistan can beat India 3-0 in the tournament.
"Dekhe pressure kuch nahi hai. Koshish yahi hoti hai ki match ko match k tarha hi khele. (We'll try to approach it like any other match)," Babar Azam said when a journalist asked if Pakistan can make it 3-0 if they face India thrice in the upcoming Asia Cup in UAE.
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Six teams are divided into two groups with the top two from each group advancing to the super 4s stage. The top four teams will play against each other and the top two teams will advance to the final. India and Pakistan are placed in Group A along with a yet-to-named qualifier.
Chances are high that Pakistan and India will move into the top 4s and play a second time, while a possibility exists that both teams might play in the final as well.
The last time these two sides met at the same venue, Pakistan had beaten India for the first in a World Cup match in any format. Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Babar Azam said, they will approach the Asia Cup in the same manner and try to focus on their own game.
"Yes, there will be different pressure but as we tried in last World Cup (not to let it affect us), we'll try to focus on our game and believe in our abilities. This time also our focus will be to give our best. Putting our best effort is in our hands, results are not. If we give our best then more often than not, results will also come," he said.
Here is the video:
(Hindustan Times inputs)