Asia Cup final: Wasim Akram says India are favourites but asks Pakistan to back themselves and play sensible cricket

“I hope so (Pakistan’s bowling comes to the fore on Sunday too), and look, it’s an India-Pakistan game. India definitely is favourite on Sunday. But you guys have seen, cricket lovers have seen, I have seen, anything can happen in this format. One good innings, one spell can change the course of the game. Pakistan team should take this confidence, this momentum to Sunday and back themselves and play sensible cricket,” he added.” Akram told a select group of media.

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The Pakistan legend also said that the Men in Green can really test the India middle order if their bowlers could get early breakthroughs if they can dismiss openers Shubman gill and Abhishek Sharma.

“Ideally, a couple of early wickets, especially Abhishek and Gill, that can definitely put India on a back-foot. It should be a close game and I hope in the end, the best team will win,” he added.

The final in Dubai will be the first-ever India-Pakistan summit clash in the 41-year history of Asia Cup, adding another chapter to cricket’s most intense rivalry. The two teams have met in 5 other finals in other tournaments with Pakistan leading India 3-2.

In recent times though, the equation has been overwhelmingly in India’s favour with the Men in Blue already defeating Pakistan twice in this edition of the Asia Cup, once in the group stage and once in the Super 4s.

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