India v Pakistan ‘hype has an impact’ – Sarfraz Ahmed

Four matches are done at the Asia Cup 2018. In Group A, Pakistan first – comprehensively – and India then – less convincingly – have beaten Hong Kong to qualify for the Super Four stage.

Next up is the big game: India v Pakistan. They haven’t played each other since the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, which Pakistan won by a whopping 180 runs, and the sense of anticipation around this game, to be played in Dubai on Wednesday, 19 September, is immense.

“There's always pressure in India-Pakistan games. We've told our players, not just this game, consider every match as an India-Pakistan game if you want to win the event,” said Ahmed, the Pakistan captain.

“There's pressure, but we're trying to not let it affect us, and perform well.”

Try as they might, the Pakistan players – and the Indians too, of course – can’t escape the hype around the game.

“As players, we take India-Pakistan match very normally, but when the match comes up, the sort of hype that's created – TV channels discuss it, there are small programmes on social media – so the hype has an impact,” conceded Ahmed.

“But the players are told that whenever there's an India-Pakistan match, you will try and play like you play any other game.”

Despite all the talk of keeping things balanced and normal, the players do feel that extra something when they come up against the traditional rivals, Ahmed admitted.

“When you talk of junoon[passion], when you're at home or you're going to play a match against India, everyone's wish is for you to win against India,” he said. “As a player, as a captain, if you see, we have to win against all the teams but the thing about getting inspired is correct.

“So the junoon is there and you get a hope that against India you've to perform ... it has happened in the past as well, whichever player it is – whether from India or Pakistan – he becomes a hero in the eyes of his fans.”

As for the Champions Trophy win at The Oval last summer, no, it’s long gone, according to the Pakistan skipper. “It was a time in the past and it is gone now. It was obviously a memorable match for us and that will remain in our minds forever. The players who were part of that game will remember it throughout their careers,” he said.

“It is a new event now, new atmosphere, the conditions are completely different. So we'll try to ensure that the momentum that we've got from the first game, we'll take it forward.

“A lot of people say this game is between Pakistan's bowling and India's batting. But I don't believe that. If you see the past season, our batting is doing well, and bowling is also doing well. I feel it'll be a good contest and I am hoping we put on a good show.”