Asia Cup 2018: Zaheer Abbas names the favourites of the event

The 2018 Asia Cup is scheduled to get underway on September 15 with the clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament will be a witness to 13 matches and the final will be played on September 28 in Dubai. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will cross swords in the tournament’s marquee clash on September 19.

In the meantime, Zaheer Abbas reckons the high-voltage clash as the most essential face-off in the multi-nation extravaganza. Moreover, he put forth Pakistan as the favourites to win the title for the third time owing to their stupendous form of late, especially in the 50-overs format.

“The way Pakistan are playing these days I believe that they would be the favourites for the Asia Cup title. Then there would be India and I think that the main battle for supremacy is going to be fought between these two teams.

“That [India vs Pakistan] is going to be the most important game of the tournament. Everybody likes to watch Pakistan-India games as they produce high-voltage action,” Abbas was quoted as saying in International Business Times.

Kohli is India’s biggest match-winner

India will be without the services of their regular captain in Virat Kohli and his absence has been deemed to deplete the Men in Blue to some extent. Abbas also said that India will dearly miss the Delhi-born cricketer to some extent.

“Kohli is India’s biggest match-winner and his team is certainly going to miss him in the Asia Cup. That said, the Indians have some really good ODI players in their squad,” he added.

Pakistan have an impressive record against India in the UAE. They have played 26 matches out of which they have emerged triumphant in 19 of them. Pakistan have won the Asia Cup in 2000 and 2012 respectively and Sarfraz Ahmed’s men will be hoping to add to the tally.

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