Kuldeep Yadav, India’s ace spinner, expressed his eagerness to excel against Pakistan as the fierce rivals gear up for their Asia Cup clash in the Super Four stage at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
India convincingly won the Group A match last Sunday, but the victory was overshadowed by a handshake controversy that stirred the tournament.
Both teams are now set for their second encounter in the competition, with India playing the already-eliminated Oman in their final Group A match in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The question remains whether India will field their top team against Oman, but experts are already speculating on India’s strategy for the crucial match against Pakistan, who are eager to prove themselves after the recent controversy.
Kuldeep, who boasts an impressive 18 wickets in seven ODIs and one T20I against Pakistan at an average of 12.88, is ready to deliver another standout performance.
“There’s no special preparation for Pakistan, but I am always highly motivated to perform well against them,” the left-arm spinner stated at a press conference in Dubai on Thursday.
“The history between the teams inspires me to give my best. I’ve been fortunate to consistently perform well against them, and I hope to continue this trend.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Agha confirmed his team’s readiness for Sunday’s match following last week’s group-stage confrontation, which ended in discord as the Indian team declined to shake hands.
Pakistan advanced to the Super Fours after defeating the UAE in their final Group A match on Wednesday, where they will face two Group B teams in a round-robin format.
The cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan has been on hold since 2013, with the teams meeting only in multi-team events.
“We are prepared and ready for any challenge,” Salman stated after their 41-run win against the UAE.
“Our goal is to play good cricket. If we maintain our form from the past few months, I believe we’ll perform well against any team.”
Fakhar Zaman scored 50, but Pakistan’s top-order batsmen fell short against the UAE’s modest bowling, with opener Saim Ayub dismissed for his third consecutive duck in the tournament.
Salman admitted they need better batting in the middle order.
“We achieved our goal, but improving our middle-order batting remains crucial,” Salman noted.
India secured a seven-wicket win over Pakistan last weekend, marking the first cricket match between the nations since a brief military conflict in May.
The game proceeded without incident, but there was a lack of handshakes between captains and players. India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the armed forces back home.
The Pakistan Cricket Board demanded the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft for a “violation” of the code of conduct and considered withdrawing from the tournament before proceeding with Wednesday’s match.
India and Pakistan could face off for a third time in the tournament if both reach the final on September 28. (with inputs from Reuters)
