In the walkway beside the nets for trainees at the ICC Academy, Rashid Alam reminisces the ferocity of the India-Pakistan rivalry to his two children, both wearing Pakistan jerseys bearing their names. “Woh zamaana alag tha” (Those times were different),” he says. “We had the world’s best fast bowlers and great batsmen too. Those days we would beat India regularly.”
Alam, who is from Karachi and works in Dubai as a software engineer, says his children don’t understand what it all once meant. “They can’t be blamed. The rivalry has become one-sided.”
Similar laments echoed as Pakistan thrashed UAE on Friday, a 93-run victory that infused them with momentum before the cricket-world stopping game on Sunday — the India vs Pakistan T20 Asia Cup match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Sunday’s contest will be the first between the two rivals and neighbours after the hostilities that followed Operation Sindoor in May, prompting some back home to question whether India should be playing Pakistan at all. It’s a sentiment that head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed in the dressing room, according to the assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
“We obviously are aware of the sentiments and the strong feelings. And Gauti’s (Gambhir’s) message has just been very professional, about not worrying about things that are not in our control,” the assistant coach said in the pre-match press conference.
“You have to put those sentiments and emotions behind you. It’s actually something addressed in the team meeting today. So we’re aware of people’s feelings. At the same time, we would put these aside and focus on the game,” he added.
The stands at Dubai International are expected to be packed Sunday, but the rivalry has lost some of its natural charm, its innate capacity to fascinate and intrigue, the sweaty anticipation and the nervous excitement.
Watching Friday’s match against UAE on television, a Pakistan supporter enthusiastically says, “Hum India ko 70 runs mein all out karenge (We will get them all-out in 70 runs),” only to add moments later: “Aur woh humko 50 mein all out karega! Umeed nahi hai (But they will get us out in 50 runs. There is no hope).”
It was a rivalry that was once equal, replete with magnetic personas. Now, it has lost its competitive edge: India are world champions, the runaway leaders on the ranking pile, and Pakistan sit seventh, a spot below Sri Lanka, just precariously ahead of Bangladesh.
India are well-manned in every position, stacked with match-winners. Pakistan, despite their recent upturn in form (though most victories were against teams ranked below them, with the exception of West Indies), are an unsettled side. They are still figuring out their best batting line-up, are uncertain about their bowling combination, and their head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha are still sketching the blueprint of Pakistan cricket’s revival.
Historically, India have dominated this fixture in the T20 format, winning 10 of the 13 games. Even former Pakistan cricketers, some of the gnarled professionals in their playing days, reluctant to accept India’s superiority, have been raving about the Indian side.
Shahid Afridi, a former captain who reserved his best for India, tells Youtube channel BKH Reacts: “You should see the body language of even the new players that come into the (Indian) team. They brim with confidence. They come ready, they have already played a hundred games in full-house, they have already shared the dressing room with international stars. They don’t have pressure or fear and are full of confidence. Even their B team can win the Asia Cup!”
Other leading voices of Pakistan cricket agree. “They (Pakistan) need nothing less than a miracle to beat India,” says Ramiz Raja on News24. Shoaib Malik, in a less dismissive tone, says “the games against India will be a reality check, showing where it stands in world cricket.” Shoaib Akhtar believes the batsmen are playing far too many flashy shots: “Play proper cricket shots. You can get away with Oman, but not India. Lots of gaps in the batting department, and how will they face Jasprit Bumrah?” he asks in a show on Outside Edge.
A couple of decades ago, India’s fans used to similarly worry about Akhtar and his frightening pace. Or Wasim Akram’s southpawed wiles, or Saqlain Mushtaq’s cryptic repertoire.
Like how India depended on individual brilliance to beat Pakistan in the 90s, Pakistan’s best hopes hinge on their brightest star Shaheen Shah Afridi reprising his Dubai heroics of 2021, when he cleaned up India’s top order in a devastating spell of late-swing and raw aggression. Or the familiar nemesis of India, Fakhar Zaman, orchestrating an escape act. Their biggest strength is the spin quartet of Mohammed Nawaz (left-arm orthodox), Abrar Ahmed (leg-spin), Saim Ayub (off-spin) and Sufiyan Muqeem (left-arm wrist spin).
But even their strongest department is inferior to India’s counterparts. Nawaz aside, none of them could claim they are better spinners than Kuldeep Yadav and Co. Should Pakistan field just two seamers, Shaheen and the medium-pacer Faheem Ashraf, it would be a prognosis of how abysmally their fast-bowling stocks have fallen.
As is Pakistan’s batting. Where once prowled graceful stroke-makers, unabashed aggressors with home-spun techniques, with malleable wrists and feet of silk, there is now a group that is adjusting to international standards. Pakistan swear by an attacking philosophy, but if the game against Oman was any proof, they are not evolved enough to pose a serious threat to India, their batting brimming with explosiveness.
As Rashid tells his children, “Woh zamaana alag tha.”
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