Pakistan will start its marketing campaign within the Asia Cup on Wednesday, taking up Nepal within the metropolis’s sweltering warmth as multi-team worldwide cricket returns to the nation after almost 15 years.
It has been an extended, tough street for Pakistan cricket ever because the militant assault on the Sri Lankan group in Lahore in March, 2009.
Following the assault, not solely did Pakistan lose the Champions Trophy internet hosting rights but in addition its share of the World Cup matches in 2011.
With the International Cricket Council (ICC) and member nations reluctant to go to the nation due to safety causes, Pakistan went with out a global recreation at house for almost eight years in opposition to top-tier groups.
Which is why, the 4 matches of the Asia Cup being held within the nation maintain nice significance for Pakistan, who’ve additionally been awarded the 2025 Champions Trophy.
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Pakistan, which just lately rose to No. 1 in ODI rankings after a clear sweep of the ODI sequence in opposition to Afghanistan in Sri Lanka, ought to win comfortably in opposition to Nepal, which is taking part in its first Asia Cup.
Only two Nepal gamers, leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, have the expertise of taking part in in T20 leagues.
Barring Lamichhane, who has performed within the Pakistan Super League, the others know little or no concerning the taking part in situations in Multan.
Having bought its ODI standing in 2018, Nepal is ranked fifteenth within the 50-over format, an indication of how shut it’s to attaining its dream of that includes within the 2027 World Cup, which can be a 14-team affair.
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Having arrived in Pakistan per week again, it will likely be fascinating to see the way it fares in opposition to an outfit that is among the favourites to raise the Asia Cup.
Pakistan will play simply two video games at house and the remaining in Sri Lanka, together with the massive one in opposition to India. But the sport in opposition to Nepal will provide its gamers an excellent alternative to fine-tune their recreation.
Babar Azam just lately hit two half-centuries in opposition to Afghanistan, and solely a giant one will fulfill the house group’s followers.
With the climate anticipated to be sizzling and humid, each groups will rely closely on their spinners to do the job.
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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