IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 Highlights: Match washed out; India, Pakistan share points

The teams are ready as we can see the Pakistan unit in a huddle. Team director Mickey Arthur can be seen passing the last minute tips to his players.

"We practise with the bowlers that we have. But these three (Shaheen, Rauf, Naseem) are quality bowlers and have performed well in the last few years.

"Their strength, where they bowl and not bowl, we have seen all that. We will use our years of experience to play against them, as simple as that." - India skipper Rohit Sharma on Pakistan's pace attack

The ground staffs have started to remove the covers. The rain has stopped but the conditions look grim as it is overcast. 

Players from both sides are also doing their final warm-ups ahead of the clash.

Visuals of the Pakistan team leaving for the venue. Although it's drizzling but we hope the rain clears away to make some room for cricket.

Rain is playing hide and seek and as per latest inputs there's a slight drizzle at the moment. Covers have also been brought on, which are not good signs, especially with less than an hour remaining for the toss.

The Indian unit heads into the competition after a week long preparation camp in Alur, Bengaluru. 

After a long time India have assembled a full-strength squad but they still have a few questions to be answered.

Players like Shreyas Iyer is making a return after a long injury lay-off. While Jasprit Bumrah, who'll be leading the seam department, too is very new and has just played two T20Is coming into the Asia Cup.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who is part of the squad is still unfit and will only be available after the Super 4 stage.

If we go by latest inputs, the rains have disappeared and the sky appears clear at the moment. 

There have been spells of rains, mostly drizzle. However, there was one incident, which forced the ground staffs to cover the playing area. 

Lets hope it remains this way.

The weather has been fickle since morning. Earlier a post shared by ex-Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram showed bit of drizzle. Then a post by Sri Lanka Cricket showed clear skies but now it is being reported that it has started to rain heavily.

Virat Kohli has also been dismissed by left-arm spinner on seven occasions since 2021 and the former India skipper averages 14.57 against them.

Ishan Kishan, who is likely to don the gloves, has also been dismissed by a left-arm spinner five times and averagesf 29, which makes Mohammad Nawaz another key player from the Pakistan camp.

If we look at both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they have been vulnerable against left-arm pacers in the past, something that will make Shaheen Shah Afridi the happiest among all the Pakistan bowlers.

Rohit averages 25.8 against left-arm pace since 2021, and has been dismissed five times.

Kohli, on the other hand, averages 29 and has been dismissed thrice.

Ever since the 2019 World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja has amassed 448 runs at an average of 49.77. 

However, he has gone wicketless in 10 of the 22 innings he's bowled in this time period.

Wasim Jaffer thinks this should be the XI India should field against Pakistan. He has left out Mohammad Shami, one of India's most experienced pacer and tried to squeeze in Shardul Thakur, considering his low-order batting potential.

Live visuals from the Pallekele Ground and we must say the signs look positive at the moment. Remember there is a rain forecast during the match, but we are hoping it to remain away.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam scored a superd 151 in the previous match against Nepal. However, the skipper doesn't have a very good record against India, in fact he hasn't gone past fifty even once against the Men In Blue in ODIs. Babar averages 31.60, and has a highest score of 48. He has so far accumulated 158 runs in the five innings.

INDIA 

Anil Kumble - 7 wickets in 4 matches (highest wicket taker)

Rohit Sharma - 367 runs in 7 matches (highest run getter)

PAKISTAN

Saeed Ajmal - 8 wickets in 4 matches (highest wicket taker)

Shoaib Malik - 428 runs in 5 matches (highest run getter)

If we look at the head-to-head records between the two sides in Asia Cup ODIs, it is India who have the edge over the neighbours. 

They've engaged in 13 matches, out of which India have won 7, while Pakistan have won 5. 

India had defeated Pakistan by nine wickets in Dubai in 2018, which was the last 50-over clash between the two in the continental tournament. 

If we look at the head-to-head record, the two teams have engaged in 132 ODIs. Pakistan have won 73 times, while India have won 55 of them. Four encounters didn't produce any result. 

While we still await for India's playing XI, a post in Pakistan Cricket Team's social media profile has confirmed that the Men In Green won't be tweaking their winning combination.

This is the first time India is meeting Pakistan in the 50-over format after the 2019 World Cup. India had then won the match by 89 runs in Manchester. 

In his last five innings against Pakistan, Rohit Sharma has scored 90-plus score thrice.

Rohit's last five ODI innings vs Pakistan: 91(119), 0(3), 52(39), 111*(119), 140(113).

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is in Kandy and gives an update on the weather. 

If we look at Pakistan's previous encounter they piled a massive 342/6 on the board despite losing two early wickets. 

Skipper Babar Azam, who is ranked one ODI batter at the moment, scored a superb 151 off 131 balls, which featured 14 fours and 4 sixes.

Iftikar Ahmad then wrapped the show with an unbeaten 71-ball 109, which featured 11 fours and 4 sixes.

A look at Pakistan's squad for Asia Cup 2023:

Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Usama Mir

What is really concerning for fans is the weather forecast. 

As per the forecast, rain and thunderstorms are likely to interrupt the proceedings. In addition there will also be a thick cloud cover throughout the match.

Openers: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan 

Top and middle-order: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav/Tilak Varma

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja

Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami