Whether it was during his days on the field or now as an expert, Kamran Akmal has never held himself back; and the former Pakistan wicketkeeper has stuck his neck out to say that Pakistan’s only chance of giving India a fight in the Asia Cup Group A clash on Sunday is if they can repeat their ‘opening act’ of 2021.
Pakistan’s famous 10-wicket win four Octobers ago still rankles India, and Akmal was pointing at the hero of the match, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who rocked India at the top after Babar Azam chose to field first in Dubai.
The lanky left-arm pacer dismissed Rohit Sharma for a first-ball duck and sent KL Rahul back in his next over to make it 6-2. Returning for his next spell later, he dismissed the well-set Virat Kohli for 57. In response, openers Babar and Mohammad Rizwan raced to the 152-run target with 2.1 overs to spare.
“Pakistan will have to take wickets with the new ball. Like Shaheen did in 2021,” said Akmal while talking to mid-day. “For the last 10 years I think, an India vs Pakistan match begins 70-30 in India’s favour. We won that match in 2021 because Afridi took early wickets.
‘Keep India under 160’
“If Pakistan can take two-three wickets in the Powerplay, then they can put India under pressure. If they can limit India to 150-160, then it can become a 50:50 game; but if India reach 180 or beyond, then it will be tough for Pakistan.”
T20 world champions and No. 1 ranked India began the tournament in intimidating fashion, dismissing UAE for a mere 57 in a nine-wicket win, with Kuldeep Yadav (4-7) and Shivam Dube (3-4) taking seven wickets between them.
Pakistan are coming into the Asia Cup after winning the tri-nation series involving Afghanistan and the hosts UAE. Their only loss in five matches came against Afghanistan in the round-robin stage.
Batting legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma quit T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup last year, and also bid adieu to Tests before the England tour earlier this year. The team also saw off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin quitting international cricket, while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also retired from T20Is.
India’s future is bright
But Akmal said India’s strong domestic structure has ensured that quality cricketers like Shubman Gill are there to replace them, which keeps the team’s strength intact.
“Recently, Kohli, Rohit, Ashwin, Jadeja have all retired. Despite that, the team is looking so strong… This is also because coach Gautam Gambhir treats every cricketer equally. For him, Kohli and a junior player are the same and nobody is a super star. That’s the sign of a good coach,” said Akmal.
