Mirpur, Dhaka- Bangladesh: The Asia Cup 2016 big match will be held here at Mirpur between the arch rival Pakistan and India, the Twenty20 format as teams aim to assess their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in March. As two most bitter rivals in the world cricket, Pakistan and India, are going to take on each other in a round-robin league encounter of the Asia Cup T20 tournament in Bangladesh on Saturday (February 27), the most intriguing rivalry is again set to be renewed. The two teams met exactly a year and 11 days back in Adelaide Australia during the 50-over World Cup 2015’s match which was won by India 76 runs. The unpredictable Pakistan team will take in-form Indian team with rehabilitated pacer Mohammed Amir being the focus of attention. Saturday’s clash will also serve as a pre-cursor to the arch-rivals’ opening round battle in the ICC World T20, next month in India. Traditionally, India have never ever lost to Pakistan in the global events but it has not been the case in the continental event where Shahid Afridi and co have performed well .The Asia Cup has never been played in the T20 format, which is also a first. India and Pakistan’s rivalry in T20Is and Asia Cup has been so far the battle between India and Pakistan in Asia Cup has been equal both the teams have won 5-5 ODI games each they have faced in this tournament. T20Is: India has won 5 games out of six T20 international matches played against Pakistan. Highest individual score (Asia Cup): India’s star batter Virat Kohli slammed his highest ever individual total of 183 (148 balls) in ODI against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2012. Kohli’s breathtaking innings helped India successfully chase a daunting total of 330. View Photos Highest Opening partnership (Asia Cup): Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jameshed’s 224-run opening stand during Asia Cup 2012. (Indo-Pak game is normal for me: Kohli) Highest individual score (T20Is): Virat Kohli’s 78* in the 2012 World Cup in Colombo is also the highest individual score by a batsman in India-Pakistan T20 match. Most runs by an individual (T20Is): With 150 runs in 4 T20 games played, Virat Kohli tops the list of most number of runs scored by a batsman in games between India-Pakistan. Most 50’s in T20Is: Mohammad Hafeez has slammed 2 fifties against India, during the bilateral series in India back in 2012, happens to be the only batter to have scored maximum number of half centuries between India-Pakistan clashes. Most wickets (T20Is): Pakistan’s Umar Gul has bagged 11 wickets, maximum no. of wickets by an individual bowler, between arch-rivals. His best figure is 4/37 at an average of 16.18. View Photos for India, seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the best bowling figures of 3/9, during T20 game between India and Pakistan played at Bangalore in 2012. Most 6’s in a T20I game: Yuvraj Singh holds the record for hitting 7 sixes in his whirlwind knock of 72 (36 balls) during the match at Ahmadabad. India cleared its first hurdle with relative ease and now gears up for a showdown with bitter-rival Pakistan in the glamour game of the Asia Cup in Bangladesh on Saturday.
Once again this tie will draw millions of television viewers across the world and one can expect empty streets in the main cities of the two countries as most will be glued to television sets.The arch-enemies on and off the field haven’t met in a bilateral series in several years, but have been forced to face each other in ICC-run tournaments. Their last meeting came in the World Cup in Australia last year that India won and, despite extraordinary efforts by the Pakistan board to kick-start a bilateral series in a neutral country, it was snubbed by India. So, one can expect tensions to run high in Mirpure on Saturday as Pakistan tries to turn the tables on its arrogant neighbor in this regional tournament that will serve as a dress rehearsal for the World Twenty20 that starts in India next month. As the luck of the draw would have it India will lock horns with Pakistan yet again in a group encounter. India, favored to win both the tournaments, got off to a flying start on Wednesday by thrashing Bangladesh in the opener of the biennial 12-day competition in Dhaka. India piled on 166 for six thanks to a superb 83 off 55 balls by red-hot opener Rohit Sharma and newcomer Hardik Pandya who made an impressive 31 off 18 balls. Veteran medium-pacer Ashish Nehra then captured three for 23 to send the home team crashing to 121 for seven … Skipper Lasith Malinga (4 for 26) and fellow pace bowler Nuwan Kulasekara (3 for 10) proved too much for United Arab Republic in Mirpur as Sri Lanka romped to a 14-run win in the Asia Cup on Thursday. The islanders made 129 for eight with Dinesh Chandimal top-scoring with 50 and then restricted U.A.E. to 115 for nine.Mean while the Government of Pakistan has conveyed its decision with regard to Pakistan cricket team’s participation in the ICC World T20 2016 scheduled in India.As per the decision, Pakistan cricket team has been allowed to participate in the matches of ICC World T20 scheduled in various venues in India. The permission has been given specifically for the ICC World T20 2016.Since the Government advise in respect of the security of the member of cricket team and Pakistani national would be adhere in letter and spirit.The Chairman PCB Mr. Shaharyar M. Khan who is currently in Dhaka said:“I am pleased that our Government has given its consent for our team to visit India. As a duty of care, we have asked ICC to put in place special arrangements for the Pakistan cricket team while in India we will also be expecting visa facilitation and other arrangements for the Pakistani fans wishing to visit India for the ICC World T20 2016”.
February 27: India vs Pakistan, Mirpur
February 28: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Mirpur
February 29: Pakistan vs UAE, Mirpur
March 1: India vs Sri Lanka, Mirpur
March 2: Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Mirpur
March 3: India vs UAE, Mirpur
March 4: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Mirpur
March 6: Final, Mirpur,
Before the start of the main tournament, there was a qualifying event played before the Asia Cup that saw the likes of Oman, UAE, Hong Kong and Afghanistan competing for the one spot
