There is nothing like an Indo-Pak cricket match, said sports analyst Geoffrey Boycott while commenting on the closely-fought cricket encounters between the two Asian arch-rivals.  

His views depict the true scenario of the game between India and Pakistan and once again the game lovers will have an opportunity to see the clash of the Asian titans in an Asia Cup blockbuster in Dubai on Aug. 28.  Pakistan team has already landed in Dubai and is engaged in practice sessions for the tournament which will decide about their Asian supremacy. 

Yes, the Green Shirts will lock horns with India in their Asia Cup 2022 opener which is said to be the most anticipated match of cricket in Dubai on Sunday while their second Group A encounter will be against a qualifier (UAE, Kuwait, Singapore or Hong Kong) in Sharjah on Sep 2, after which they will play the super four stage matches till  September 9. It may be recalled here that bilateral cricket has been the victim of sports politics by Modi regime due to which the two sides only  play each other on  neutral venues  in multi-team events like the Asia Cup or World or other bigger cricketing extravaganzas. Pakistan is well poised to win this encounter as  they have a psychological edge over their opponents, who they had beat by 10 wickets in their previous fixture last year during a T20 World Cup match in Dubai. 

In the wake of the cricket's world's most intense sports rivalries between the two neighbors, a great cricket is expected with unmatched moments of cricket sensations on the ground when the two will fight for Asian supremacy.  

In the backdrop of disturbing Situation on the political, social, and economic fronts, sports are the only venue to cheer the Pakistani people, who get such moments rarely.   So all eyes are set on the Green Shirts to deliver in style and make the Pak fans happy in these testing times.  

Sports analysts say that sports should not be mingled with politics as Modi regime has been doing in India. Last year when Pakistan beat India, there were a number of court cases initiated against cricket fans in India for cheering Pakistan team, In held Kashmir, youths were booked for terrorism charge for cheering Pakistan victory. 

In fact, the draconian Indian law called the IPC was weaponized by the Modi regime which can be gauged from the fact the  Police registered a case under the draconian anti-terror law, UAPA, against medical students in Srinagar for cheering for Green Shirts in the Indo Pak T20 match.  

In Rajasthan, the authorities booked and held a female schoolteacher for a social media post in which she cheer for the Green Shirts. She was also suspended from the job.  

The Modi regime went to the extent to file sedition charges against Youth for cheering Pakistan side. So these are extreme reactions from Indian government  are inhuman and the ICC should take note of such highhanded again cricket fans in India and held Jammu and Kashmir, where Muslims are being subjected to inhuman  treatment on one pretext or the other.

The BJP extremists and Modi men descended into a fit of hate and started harassing Mohammed Shami, who is the only Muslim player in the Indian side.  In fact, such an attack on the Muslim member of the Indian team is the pathetic thing that the Modi hate squads are openly committing. Just imagine, elsewhere in India whether it the state of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan or any other part of India, as many as 20 people (mainly young Muslims) were arrested and charged for sedition for cheering Pakistan’s team. 

On the other hand, the tournament is also significant as it this five-nation 15th edition of the Asia Cup will provide an ample opportunity to players to prepare ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. IN a huge setback, our star pacer Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the Asian Cup on fitness ground as he suffering from right knee ligament injury of and the PCB Medical team has advised him six weeks rest. He can only play after September and by then the Asia Cup must be over. 

However, he will be available for New Zealand T20I tri-series and the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 to be staged in Australia. Shaheen suffered a right knee ligament injury while fielding during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month. Meanwhile, the PCB has also announcement Shaheen's  replacement for the Asia Cup and Muhammad Hussain is all set to play in his place in the Asia Cup  in Dubai. In a nutshell, the cricket euphoria is getting stronger with the passage of each day and Pak cricket fans are ecstatic and want nothing less than victory for which they are praying.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 24 2022

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