DUBAI – Cricketing great Wasim Akram has called on Pakistan and India’s players to rise above the hype and focus solely on the game when the arch-rivals meet in a highly anticipated Asia Cup T20 clash in Dubai on Sunday.
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The Group A fixture marks the first time the two sides face off since a military conflict earlier this year, which pushed relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours to their lowest point in decades. While political tensions remain high, Akram believes the players should block out external noise.
“Enjoy, it’s a game of cricket,” Akram told AFP. “Forget about everything other than cricket. One team will win, and one team will lose. Just enjoy the moment if you win the game. Pressure will come, enjoy that and show discipline because this is just a game. It’s for both teams and for both sets of fans.”
A full house of 25,000 spectators is expected at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Akram, who spent nearly two decades as one of the game’s most feared fast bowlers, said he always thrived in such high-pressure encounters.
“I enjoyed every game against India, and so did players from the opposition,” he recalled. “The intensity was different, but it brought out the best in us.” Akram himself led a Pakistan touring side to India in 1999 despite extremist threats, and also featured in the 1987 series played when the two nations came dangerously close to war.
For Akram, the bigger picture must remain in focus for Pakistan’s relatively inexperienced squad. He urged them not to treat the India match as the ultimate prize but as part of the larger mission of winning the Asia Cup.
“Pakistan have a chance as they won a tri-series last week,” he said, referencing Pakistan’s recent success against Afghanistan and the UAE. “They should not think that we just need to win against India, think of winning the Asia Cup. You can lose to a big team but even then, stand up and play well in the tournament.”
India, the defending T20 world champions, opened their campaign in dominant fashion, thrashing hosts UAE in just 4.3 overs after bowling them out for 57. Despite their form, Akram expects the India-Pakistan encounter to be competitive.
“I don’t think the match will be one-sided like India against UAE,” he said. “Anything can happen in this tournament.”
Pakistan enter the clash with momentum after a convincing 93-run victory over Oman on Friday, where their spin attack proved too strong. However, their batting remains under scrutiny ahead of facing India’s world-class bowling lineup.
Group B of the tournament features Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh, while the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage. The Asia Cup final will be held in Dubai on September 28, a match that could potentially see Pakistan and India meet again.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on Sunday’s showdown. As Wasim Akram reminded both sets of players, the contest is not just about rivalry but also about embracing the game, handling the pressure, and remembering why they play cricket in the first place.
