India vs Pakistan: The Asia Cup 2016

Mar 21, 2022

India vs Pakistan: The Asia Cup 2016 Image

There has been no bilateral series between India and Pakistan since 2012/13 due to continuing political tensions between the two countries. 

However, they have continued to meet since then in international tournaments. One example was the 2016 Asia Cup, a Twenty20 international tournament staged in Bangladesh, also featured Sri Lanka and the UAE. The tournament worked on a round robin basis, the two then going on to meet in a final.

The match between Pakistan and India at the National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on 27 February is one that Pakistan cricket fans will be glad to forget in a hurry.

Put into bat after losing the toss, they were soon deep in trouble at 42/6. Sarfaraz Ahmed top scored with 25. Had they not had the benefit of 15 from extras, their final Pakistan total of 83 would have been even more embarrassing.

Khurram Manzoor was the only other batter to make it into double figures, and the innings was over with still 15 balls to be bowled. Hardik Pandya took 2-8 and Ravindra Jadeja 2-11.

But Mohammad Amir moved the new ball at absurd angles, as a result of which India did not make the best of starts themselves. When they were 8/3, Pakistan had hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory.

But Virat Kohli calmed Indian nerves by combining with Yuvraj Singh in a partnership worth 68 for the fourth wicket. By the time Kohli was out for 49, having hit seven fours, the job was as good as done.

Yuvraj, in the company of his captain M.S. Dhoni, saw his side home with more than four overs in hand. India won by five wickets, and Kohli was named Player of the Match.

India topped the league, having won all their matches. With Bangladesh finishing second, the pair met in the final in Dhaka. India went on to claim the trophy with an eight-wicket win.