IND vs PAK: Top 3 encounters in Asia Cup history
The entire cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for India and Pakistan to ignite arguably the fiercest rivalry in international cricket as the two teams are all set to take on each other in the Asia Cup 2023. The Asian heavyweights will take on each other on Saturday, September 02 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. Over the years, the two teams have treated fans with numerous memorable encounters in the Asia Cup bringing the audience to the edge of their seats. As India and Pakistan prepare for the high-voltage clash, let’s take a look at the three best India-Pakistan matches in Asia Cup history:
1) 2010 Asia Cup, 4th Match, June 19, 2010, Dambulla
After opting to bat first, Pakistan were bundled out for 267 in the first innings in Dambulla in the 2010 edition. India were cruising for a win at 179/2 after 35 overs needing 88 runs off last 15 overs having eight wickets in hand. However, a flurry of wickets left them reduced to 219/6 after 45.1 overs.
Needing another 49 runs to win off 29 balls Suresh Raina (34 off 27) took India on the cusp of victory but his dismissal in the last over threw the game wide open. Harbhajan Singh (15 off 11) emerged as India’s hero taking his team over the line with a monstrous hit against Mohammad Amir on the penultimate ball.
2) 2014 Asia Cup, 6th Match, March 02, 2014, Mirpur
After being put in to bat first, Pakistan restricted India to 245/8 in their allotted 50 overs in Mirpur in 2014 Asia Cup. In the second innings, Pakistan were not let off easily as Indian bowlers kept their side in the game with regular breakthroughs. With 13 to win off the last two overs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar turned the game on its head with his double wicket 49th over.
Pakistan required ten off the last five balls having just one wicket in hand. However, Shahid Afridi (34 off 18) took the onus upon himself to finish the game in dramatic fashion by smacking back-to-back sixes against Ravichandran Ashwin to take his team home.
3) 2012 Asia Cup, 5th Match, March 18, 2012, Mirpur
Batting first, Pakistan posted a mammoth 329/6 on the board courtesy of centuries from Mohammad Hafeez (105 off 113) and Nasir Jamshed (112 off 104) in Mirpur in 2012. In reply, India lost Gautam Gambhir in the first over itself but a young Virat Kohli played one of the finest knocks of his ODI career (183 off 148) guiding India to a six-wicket win.
