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It’s India vs Pakistan episode two, and things have become spicier than they were at this time last Sunday. India already have a win against Pakistan, and another will do two things for them. One, keep their unbeaten run in three back-to-back tournaments, including the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy, and the current Asia Cup, alive. Two, lower the chances of them facing Pakistan on a third Sunday running. Off the field, the rivalry has gathered great gusto. There have been cancelled press conferences, subtle (supposed) digs at each other, and a rejuvenation of the Andy Pycroft…

It’s a weekend of rematches. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka met each other at the same time last week, a day before the electrifying Pakistan-India clash. However, this time all four teams will have much more at stake, as the business end of the tournament commences. All teams will play each other before the best two proceed to the final. For Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, this begins with rejuvenating a rivalry they had to put aside for the greater good. Both teams conveniently saw off the Afghanistan threat and now have each other to contend with before meeting the Group A…

Cricket Ireland (CI) is in talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for touring the country before their English tour next summer. The Indian team, which is slated for a visit to England for five T20Is and three ODIs from July 1–19 next year, could play a brief series in Ireland if the talks between the two boards bear fruit. Brian MacNeice, CI’s chair, confirmed the news to the Irish team following the washout of the second T20I against England in Malahide. This is the fourth game of their already short home summer schedule, which had…

India are already through to the Super Fours; in fact, they were the first team to do so. With Pakistan having reserved the other spot, this game is the most inconsequential of all dead rubbers. However, even the most low-stakes matches have something to offer to the teams, and so does this one. India will face Pakistan on Sunday in their first Super Fours fixture, and before the business end of the tournament, they would want to give their unused squad a chance. Interestingly, India have plenty of those players. Even several of those who were part of the playing…

Michael Bracewell will captain New Zealand in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia, as Mitchell Santner remains unavailable. Santner, who underwent abdominal surgery last month, is still recovering, despite earlier being on track to be fit before the series begins on October 1. The 14-member squad also features the returning pacers Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears, both of whom have been out of action since June. Bracewell has thrice before deputised for Santner, all against Pakistan. “Never nice to lose your skipper,” New Zealand coach Rob Walter said. “But these things do happen. And Michael has already been the…

A bowling lineup stacked with spinners has been India’s go-to strategy for Asia Cup games so far, just as it had been during the Champions Trophy earlier this year at the same venue, UAE, where they played all their games. Regardless of formats, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav has found that the strategy has worked brilliantly for them, and a win against Pakistan has further cemented that belief. India managed to beat Pakistan, thanks in large part to their spinners, who halted their archrivals for a paltry 127-run total. Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy shared six wickets between them…

India-Pakistan clashes have always carried a bigger picture in the backdrop. Politics has fuelled this rivalry from the start, but none of the recent games has carried a more complex subplot than this one. The recent escalation between the two countries following the Pahalgam attack has reignited the tensions, which has led to several quarters in India calling for the boycott of the contest. But the game, now a few hours away, has survived every objection so far. Pakistan and India will meet in Dubai, the same venue where Pakistan beat India for the first time in an ICC event…

Asia Cup moves on to bigger guns now. So far, the games have seen uneven competition between seasoned campaigners and not-so-well-established teams. This weekend brings two marquee games, one of which is the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka clash. While this is nowhere near the stature of Pakistan vs India clash, you can always count on the two teams to bring the game down to the wire. Whoever wins tonight, makes the survival in the group of death easier for themselves. Whoever loses, would need to keep up with the numbers and scenarios. Bangladesh have won the last three of their…

India vs Pakistan games are always a big deal. This year, even more so, with the two teams meeting for the first time since their recent escalation following the Pahalgam Attack in April. The best way to deal with the pressure in the lead up to such a huge game, according to India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, is to channel all attention toward the match itself. “For the players and for us,” Kotak said ahead of the team’s training session on Friday, “once the BCCI says and they are aligned with the government, we are here to prepare and we…

Bangladesh chased the 145-run target in their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong in 17.4 overs. While Bangladesh remained ahead in much of the contest, many felt that, had they batted with more intent, they could have finished the game earlier than they did. However, their top-order batter Towhid Hridoy disagreed, saying the side chose caution deliberately, not out of hesitation, but because the situation demanded it. Talking to the media after Bangladesh wrapped the chase with 7 wickets to spare, Hridoy said they played keeping the game situation front of mind. “We wanted to ensure that the match doesn’t…