India and Pakistan will meet in a match in the men’s Asia Cup 2022, reigniting their rivalry on the cricket field for the first time since the last year’s T20 World Cup. The Babar Azam-drove side had beat India by 10 wickets in the clash in October last year, getting its very first win over the men dressed in blue in the coveted tournament. From that point forward, India made many huge changes to their T20I side including a change in captain, with Rohit Sharma taking over the reins from Virat Kohli.
India have likewise improved considerably in squad depth, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that it would assist India with winning the Asia Cup, that begins from August 27.
“It is always hard to go past India in any tournament, not just an Asia Cup, but I think every time we talk about the T20 World Cup which is coming up, I think that India will be right in the thick of it there. Their depth is definitely better than the other teams and I think India will win the Asia Cup,” said Ponting on the latest episode of ICC Review.
While Pakistan are ahead of India with regards to head-to-head clashes, I India do hold an edge in Asia Cup, with a 7-5 advantage in 13 matches (one no-result). While Ponting expects a close clash between the two sides, he believes India will emerge victorious in that clash as well.
“I will stick with India to win that clash against Pakistan. That is taking nothing away from Pakistan because they are an incredible cricket nation that continues to present out-and-out superstar players,” Ponting said.
The different sides will meet on August 28 and are probably going to take on one another in one more clash in Super 4s. India and Pakistan will likewise meet in the T20 World Cup on October 23.
