 "The Pakistan cricket team gets into a huddle ahead of their Asia Cup Group A match against UAE in Dubai. AP")
Pakistan aren’t exactly the most consistent of teams in cricket and stand out for their unpredictability – where they might struggle against minnows one moment and then go on to defeat the top-ranked sides right after. And while they were among the top teams under the leadership of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram in the 1980s and 1990s, the Men in Green have witnessed a steady decline in recent years, especially in the current decade.
LIVE | India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup Super 4s match in Dubai
Srikkanth calls for Pakistan to be ‘removed from top seven’
Former India captain and opener Kris Srikkanth has gone to the extent of describing the Men in Blue’s arch-rivals as a “seventh division team in a Chennai league”, one that should be competing with Associate Nations and not against top sides such as Suryakumar Yadav’s India in tournaments such as the Asia Cup.
“Going forward, Pakistan shouldn’t be playing with the main teams. Have them among the Associate nations and bring a few of the others there here. It’s a big thing for Pakistan that they are even allowed to play in such a prestigious tournament,” Srikkanth, who represented India in 43 Tests and 146 ODIs, said on his YouTube channel.
“Pakistan should be removed from the top seven. From hereon, India-Pakistan matches won’t attract crowds. India-Pakistan rivalry has become history. This Pakistan team will give us no scare. This is a seventh division team in a Chennai league,” he added.
India continue to dominate Pakistan across formats, events
India have won both of their meetings against Pakistan this year convincingly, albeit in different formats, pulling off a six-wicket victory in the ICC Champions Trophy – which took place in the ODI format – before beating the Men in Green by seven wickets in their Asia Cup T20 Group a meeting last Sunday.
The two arch-rivals meet again at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, this time in the Super 4s where the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team once again are the overwhelming favourites.
Pakistan, meanwhile, haven’t been making headlines for their on-field performances as they have for their off-field drama. Last week’s Indo-Pak clash, after all, was the first meeting between the two neighbours in a sporting competition since the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military standoff between the two nations that took place in the summer months of April and May.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAnd after the Indian team refused to shake the hands of their opponents after thrashing Agha and Co, the Pakistanis retaliated by demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft and had even threatened to boycott the tournament ahead of their final group match against UAE.