Imran Khan in UAE today as India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup

On September 19, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns in the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai though Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has no plans to witness the clash even if he is currently in that part of the world. Academically though Wednesday’s game has no significance for both sides have qualified for the next round but the excitement factor around the famed rivalry is as high as always.

India had a scare on Tuesday as qualifiers Hong Kong gave their target of 286 a solid chase to fall short by just 26 runs in the end. Pakistan though had a far clinical show against them by winning their match on Sunday by 8 wickets. The winner of Wednesday’s clash will have a psychological edge ahead of their next meeting in the Super Four stage on September 23.

Indo-Pak match not on PM’s agenda

Khan, warrior of many a game against India once and now Pakistan’s prime minister, is on a tour of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at the moment and there was speculation that the 65-year-old could pay a visit to Dubai International Cricket Stadium to view the high-voltage clash.

On Wednesday, Khan was scheduled to attend official meetings in Abu Dhabi but one senior Pakistani diplomat was quoted as saying by Gulf News: “Watching cricket match in Dubai is not on the agenda of Prime Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.”

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed came up with a pleasant reaction over the speculation of Khan visiting the venue of Wednesday’s clash. “It will quite motivating if he comes here,” he was quoted as saying to the media.

Khan played 175 ODIs for Pakistan between 1978 and 1992 and of those, 29 were against arch-rivals India. He took 35 wickets at an average of 22.25 and had one five-wicket haul which he took in Sharjah in 1985. As a batsman, he scored 433 runs against India at an average of 21.65 with the highest score of 73.

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