There isn’t much hype because the quality of Pakistan cricket has declined: Kaneria on Ind-Pak Asia Cup clash
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria believes the usual excitement around the India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup is missing this time, and he points the finger at Pakistan cricket’s falling standards. These two teams are fierce rivals, but the hype feels low for the first time in years.
It all stems from a tragic terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 tourist lives. Right after, Indian cricket legends skipped their World Championship of Legends match against Pakistan. Now, with the Asia Cup underway, people keep debating if India and Pakistan should even play amid tense political ties between the nations.
The BCCI sticks to the rules, following the central government’s policy. India joins multinational tournaments like the Asia Cup but skips one-on-one bilateral series with Pakistan. The Union Sports Ministry’s guidelines allow matches in big international events, but not in each other’s home countries.
Kaneria told that Indian fans are understandably upset. “India boycotted the Legends match, and things are still unclear. Plus, Pakistan cricket’s quality has dropped, so there’s no real buzz for this India-Pakistan showdown,” he said.
He doesn’t see Pakistan posing much threat either. “Right now, there’s no competition,” Kaneria added. Pakistan’s squad relies on young players, missing stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Meanwhile, India’s batting looks solid and deep, with Suryakumar Yadav at the helm.
“Pakistan keeps losing to smaller teams and shuffling their lineup. Without Babar or Rizwan, it’s mostly rookies out there,” he explained. Even if Pakistan loses, Kaneria predicts they’ll spin it as part of their team rebuild. “They’ll head to the Asia Cup, get beaten by India, and say they’re building for the future.”
On India’s side, things are clicking. Under new captain Shubman Gill, they bounced back against England without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In the Asia Cup, Suryakumar leads a lineup that runs deep. “I don’t see any real fight in this match,” Kaneria said.
India kicked off strong with a nine-wicket thrashing of UAE on Wednesday. Pakistan started well too, beating Oman by 93 runs on Friday. But as the big rivalry game approaches, Kaneria’s words highlight how far Pakistan cricket has slipped, dimming the Asia Cup spotlight on this classic matchup.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
