Two matches have been decided in the ninth six-nation Asia Cup, which got under way at Karachi and Lahore simultaneously on June 24. In a Group "B" match at Karachi's National Stadium, hosts Pakistan defeated minnows Hong Kong by 155 runs, while in a Group "A" match at Lahore's Qaddafi Stadium Bangladesh beat United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 96 runs.
Pakistan-Hong Kong match belongs to all-rounder Sohail Tanveer, who hammered a 55-ball 59 and added valuable 100-run eighth wicket stand with Fawad Alam (63 not out) to lift Pakistan from 161 for seven wickets after left-arm Hong Kong spinner Nadeem Ahmed had hit the home team hard with a burst of four wickets.
Tanveer then took two wickets for 20 runs to bundle the qualifiers out for 133 in 37.2 overs.
Hong Kong never seriously challenged the imposing target, with only skipper Tabarak Dar (24) and Zain Abbas (26 retired hurt) looking comfortable against a strong Pakistan bowling line-up.
Earlier, Younus Khan (67) and captain Shoaib Malik (35) had put Pakistan in a strong position before Nadeem chipped in with four wickets off 21 balls in the space of 40 runs.
Nadeem, who finished with four for 51 runs, was surprisingly kept away from the attack early on, allowing Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanveer to do their worst. Tanveer hit six boundaries before holing out in the 47th over.
Alam hit three boundaries during his steady knock and created a new eighth-wicket record in the Asia Cup, beating 54 set by Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja and Ajit Agarkar at Dhaka eight years ago.
BANGLADESH BEAT UAE: In Lahore, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful hit a sparkling century to help his team crush UAE by 96 runs. Ashraful hit a 126-ball 109 for his second one-day hundred and added 141 runs for the second wicket with Raqibul Hasan (83) to take his team to 300 for eight wickets before the bowlers bundled the UAE out for 204 in 45.4 overs.
CLASH OF TITANS: However, by the time this appears, two more important matches would have been decided. It is expected that Pakistan-India match in Karachi on Thursday will be clash of titans, while Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh.
Statistically, Pakistan enjoyed superiority over their arch rivals, having won 67 out of 115 encounters in the One-day Internationals (ODIs) with India, emerging victorious on 44 occasions.
Indians will be entering the match with happy memories as they inflicted eight-wicket defeat on Pakistan in their last match here under Rahul Dravid on June 2006. Yuvraj Singh smashed unbeaten hundred in that match.
VICTORIES: Despite enjoying the status of top team in the world, host Pakistan, led by Moin Khan, have won the continental title once since its launch at Sharjah in 1984 with Indians grabbing the crown way back in 2000.
India have won the cup four times, while defending champions Sri Lanka emerged victorious in finals three times. As such, Pakistan have to strive to reclaim the Asia title against World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka and archrival India.
Since every one-dayer is considered a funny game, ono can hardly predict about the result of the game, as chances of upsets are always there. However, the team plays with full potential and dedication on that particular day always better chances of emerging victorious.
BEST OPPORTUNITY: However, this tournament may be the best opportunity for Shoaib Malik's boys to show their top form and potential in home conditions and in front of big crowd support to end the jinx.
A confident Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said: "If we play tough cricket, we can win the competition," but he admitted that India are hot favourites.
So Shoaib Malik should keep in mind that every match against India and even Sri Lanka has its own importance, as emotions run high among the players, who will be exited to do something extra-ordinary to the satisfaction of their fans.
SARFRAZ REPLACES AKMAL: Meanwhile, the national selection committee, headed by Salahuddin Ahmed, dropped wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who had been inconsistent behind the stumps, paving way for young Sarfraz Ahmed.
Salahuddin Ahmed said: "We have picked a few young players, including left arm pacer Wahab Riaz and batsman Nomanullah, who made their one-day debuts recently, to give them exposure."
Though the young Pakistan team has won 10 One-day Internationals (ODI) against lowly rated Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, several talented youngsters could not show their mettle against teams like Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand and India.
PAKISTAN BOUNCE BACK: Unlike Indian players, including skipper M. S. Dhoni, who avoid talking big, the Pakistani players have always vowed to turn the fortune into misfortune, ignoring the fact that playing with India is always a challenge for the young Pakistani team, provided they keep a professional approach and stick to the basics.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) matches have shaken the confidence of some senior cricketers, who lacked confidence and mental toughness while playing with star world cricketers, hence it is the duty of coach Jeoff Lawson to make them understand that the IPL's Twenty20 matches are a different ball game.
However, in the tri-series in Bangladesh, they have successfully bounced back to trounce hot favourites India in the finals Earlier in the group matches, Pakistan, after defeating hosts Bangladesh, were defeated by India by 140 runs. Since Bangladesh lost their group matches, to both Pakistan and India, Pakistan booked their berth for the finals, which they won by 25 runs. Lawson, commenting on the team's performance in Bangladesh, said: "I am happy that our players bounced back so soon to form in the final. But he warned that playing against India was always a pressure match for Pakistan. And to do well in the final was a good step forward and would do us good in the Asia Cup, he hoped.
INDIAN SQUAD: Meanwhile, India's South African coach Gary Kirsten said there would not be too many changes from one-day squad that won in Australia.
"One would probably guess selectors would more or less go for the same squad after their impressive display in Australia," he said.
On chances of some of senior players like Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, Kirsten said: "In my view, age has nothing to do with it. Perhaps reason for going in for a younger side in one-dayers was to give youngsters much-needed exposure."
HIGH PROFILE CONTEST: There is no doubt that Pakistan-India matches are always a big challenge to the players of both the teams. This time too the series will be a hard fought one.
Opinions are divided. Some claim that Pakistan will be in a difficult situation against India and Sri Lanka because of their spin bowling on low and slow wickets.
Others disagree, saying a young Pakistani side, comprising five spinners, including skipper Shoaib Malik, has the capability to defeat the visitors.
However, Pakistan's fate has always depended on the word "PROVIDED", as the team lacked mental toughness, fighting qualities, team spirit and above all the capability to sustain pressure, which are the deciding factors in any match.
Since nothing can be said about top order batting, which usually crumbles in important matches, Pakistan will be heavily depending on experienced Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq and to some extent Shahid Afridi. In the match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will be facing batsman like Sanath Jayasuria, spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, who can also qualify for the final, but the Indians are definitely favourites to win the Asia Cup.
Shoaib Malik is required to lead the team from the front and score big totals to keep the visitors, India and Sri Lanka, under pressure.
Anyhow the Asia Cup will be a personal challenge for Shoaib Malik, who has often been criticised for being too soft and passive as captain. Successful holding of the Asia Cup will be a big boost for home side ahead of the ICC Cricket Champions Trophy which Pakistan to stage in September.
Pakistan, staging the Asia Cup for the first time since its inception in 1984, are confident of a positive start to the competition, which will conclude on July 6.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hopes the event will pass smoothly to pave the way for more international cricket, especially the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy in September.