India and Pakistan will face each other in the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games in Nisshin on Saturday, setting up another meeting between the two South Asian rivals. The final will be the first time India and Pakistan have faced each other in the men’s Asian Games cricket competition.
India enter the contest after an emphatic semi-final victory over Sri Lanka. The Indian side bowled Sri Lanka out for just 45, underlining the strength of a squad that includes several established international names. Pakistan, meanwhile, secured their place in the final by defeating Bangladesh in a shortened semi-final, although their chase was less convincing before Abdul Samad’s 30 off 15 balls took them over the line.
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India’s recent record against Pakistan gives them a strong statistical advantage in the T20 format. The two sides have met 17 times in T20Is, with India winning 14 of those matches. India have also won their last six T20I meetings against Pakistan. However, the Asian Games final will be a new contest and will provide Pakistan with an opportunity to challenge an Indian side packed with experience.
Pakistan will look towards captain Sahibzada Farhan for a major contribution with the bat. Farhan has previously performed well against India, scoring 57, 58 and 40 in three matches during the T20 Asia Cup. Despite Pakistan losing those games, his performances provided his team with a strong start. He has also recorded two half-centuries in four T20I innings against India.
For India, Sanju Samson will be among the players in focus. Samson scored only seven runs in the semi-final against Sri Lanka and could again bat at No. 3. India also have several other attacking options, including 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma.
India are also considering their bowling combination. Jasprit Bumrah was the lone frontline pace bowler in the semi-final, while Arshdeep Singh did not play. The team could potentially bring Arshdeep into the XI for the final. Pakistan, meanwhile, are expected to continue with four spinners, with the pitch offering turn and bounce.
The weather forecast for Saturday is largely favourable, with sunny conditions expected and only around a 10% chance of rain. Temperatures are forecast to reach 25 degrees Celsius, while the pitch is expected to offer similar turn and bounce to that seen during the semi-finals.
