india pakistan: Asia Cup begins tonight; chance for teams to test preparedness for T20 World Cup

The unpredictability of the T20 format and the development of the game in the region could make the 2022 Asia Cup the closest match ever, starting tonight.

Barring the lone qualifier Hong Kong, five other teams, including record seven-time champions India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, could beat each other on their day.

The tournament, which is being staged in the T20 format after six years, had to be moved to the UAE after hosts Sri Lanka expressed their inability to hold it back home amid the economic crisis facing the island nation.

Although conditions in the UAE will be different from the World Cup in Australia in October-November, all competing sides will be looking to identify their final squad for the ICC event over the course of the next two weeks.

There is also a lot at stake for the participating teams. India will look to execute their aggressive stance with the bat in a high-pressure environment starting with the opener against Pakistan on Sunday.

All eyes will be on Kohli, who will be expected to come out of the long thin patch. The focus will be on the performance of the top three, including Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, while injured pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be sorely missed.

Pakistan will be aiming to win the tournament which it last won in 2012 when it was played in the ODI format. With star pacer Shaheen Afridi ruled out of the tournament, he has had to back down with some injury concerns.

With a relatively inexperienced middle order, there will be more reliance on the opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Originally published at Pen 18

virat kohli: Asia Cup 2022 India vs Pakistan: KL Rahul says Virat Kohli isn’t affected by what people are saying – The Economic Times Video

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign on Sunday with a high-voltage encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Just as skipper Rohit Sharma has defended all questions on Virat Kohli’s prolonged bad patch, his deputy KL Rahul has answered the clear blueprint saying it is all “noise outside”. The last time the two sides met in the T20 World Cup in October last year, Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets.

Originally published at Pen 18

Most successful teams in Asia Cup history. Take a look!

Rohit Sharma will captain the Indian cricket team in this year’s Asia Cup. The game will be played in the United Arab Emirates from 27 August to 11 September. We take a look at the most successful teams in Asia Cup history.

Originally published at Pen 18

audi: Audi enters Formula One

Volkswagen’s premium brand Audi is entering Formula One for motor racing, the carmaker said on Friday.

Audi will compete in the Formula One World Championship from 2026 with a specially developed power unit, the carmaker said, adding that which team it will line up with in 2026 will be announced before the end of this year. .

A key part of Audi’s decision to join Formula One is the racing series’s goal to become carbon-neutral by 2030, the carmaker said, which includes new technical regulations focused on more electrification and sustainable fuels to come into effect from 2026.

Originally published at Pen 18

Match: India-Pakistan match: Restaurants, lounges promise great viewing for cricket fans in UAE

Hotels and restaurants in Dubai and Sharjah have offered a lifeline to die-hard Indian and Pakistani cricket fans – who could not lay their hands on tickets to the blockbuster clash between the arch-rivals on August 28, leaving them ‘mouth-watering’. ‘ found. Makes a deal to liven up their evening.

Thousands of fans logged into their computers and mobile phones for hours to buy tickets online for the clash, but few were lucky enough to get seats. However, hotels and restaurants have come up with proposals to make the match equally enjoyable, offering delectable thali so that family and friends can come together for an evening of fun, food and music.

Adeeb Ahmed, owner of ‘King-House of Mughlai Food’ in Sharjah, says he has installed two big screens in his restaurant for Sunday’s big clash.

“We are constantly receiving inquiries and bookings from individuals and groups to watch the match at the restaurant. On match day, we want to see the love and brotherhood flowing between the supporters of both the countries. There is no better way to enjoy the evening Instead of watching matches with dishes from the subcontinent,” IANS quoted Ahmed as saying.

“Our thali will have a mix of Pakistani with Indian food like Pakistani Kheer with Lucknowi Kavaband and Malabar Parathas with Peshawari Chicken. Since both Indian and Pakistani fans are booking seats at our restaurant, we want them to enjoy good food. Enjoy the match together and an atmosphere of camaraderie. We have also arranged for popular music in both the countries.”

The ‘High Note Pool and Sky Lounge’ in Dubai has arranged to showcase the ‘greatest cricket rivalry’ on a giant screen. Evening drinks, good food and dancing are arranged in the lounge to go with the match.

Hari Camel, CEO of High Note, explains: “We have had to increase bookings due to the high numbers. Now, there are only a few seats left for fans.”

The Music Lounge has arranged Indian and Pakistani music during the match, where people can cheer on their respective teams with country music playing in the background.

Indian team supporter Faizan Khan told IANS that he would watch the match at a sports bar along with his office colleagues as it was impossible for all of them to book tickets online.

“Our office group would watch the match together. It was very difficult for all of them to get tickets online. We then decided to watch the match at a sports bar,” he said.

Indian-origin fan Om Sharma said that he tried hard to get tickets for the match, but “luck did not favor him”. “Now, I will go with my family to some restaurant where we can enjoy a match together.”

(with inputs from IANS)

Originally published at Pen 18

mohammad wasim: Asia Cup: Injury scare for Pakistan as pacer Mohammad Wasim suffers back pain in training

Pakistan suffered another injury after fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was ruled out of the Asia Cup, with pacer Mohammad Wasim ruled out of practice with back pain ahead of their opener against India. The 21-year-old was sent for an MRI scan to ascertain the severity of the injury after he complained of lower back pain during a net session at the ICC Academy here on Thursday.

According to a report in ‘ESPN Cricinfo’, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not want to “risk a possible long-term injury” and therefore sent the pacer for a precautionary scan.

The youngster has played eight ODIs and 11 T20 Internationals since making his international debut in July last year.

The team management is hopeful that the injury is not serious and Wasim can recover in time for the tournament as Pakistan are already without the services of their main bowler Shaheen due to a knee ligament injury in July.

The two-time champions face arch-rivals India in their opening match of the tournament on Sunday.

Originally published at Pen 18

Badminton World Championship: Indian Men's Doubles pair ensure a medal finish as they storm into the semi-finals

Originally published at Pen 18