Women’s Asia Cup: Despite the unequal rivalry, India-Pakistan match could raise temperature

The tenth edition of the Women's Asia Cup has received a muted response, highlighting the stark difference between the top and bottom-ranked teams. Smriti Mandhana has set multiple records, but her presence alone has been scarce. The eagerly awaited India-Pakistan match is unlikely to be a close contest, as Pakistan has only beaten India once in the past decade.

Their T20I win percentage stands at a dismal 17.65%, and they have never lifted the Asia Cup. Bangladesh has won the tournament, while Sri Lanka are the defending champions. Despite this, the rivalry between India and Pakistan often trumps cricketing logic. Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar faced questions about handshakes with Pakistani players after only a day in Dubai.

The team responded positively, with all-rounder Deepti Sharma making a point about India's consistency. The Indian squad boasts three spinners, with Sree Charani and Prema Rawat performing admirably. However, the batting lineup outside the top two batters is relatively weak. Pakistan, too, have struggled, scoring over 130 runs only twice in their last ten T20Is.

Their bowling attack, though, has been solid, taking 59 wickets at a relatively low average. Captain Fatima Sana has been their leading wicket-taker recently. The historical lack of contests between the two sides and the current form of both teams could lead to a heated match, especially given the high temperatures in Dubai.