Team India head coach Rahul Dravid acknowledged the excitement around the possibility of facing Pakistan thrice in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. However, he added that the team would approach the tournament as “one game at a time”. The schedule for the 2023 Asia Cup was announced on Wednesday, July 19 by the Asian Cricket Council.
The six teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal are divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 4s round. Team India will take on Pakistan on September 2 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele in the first round.
There is a possibility of the arch-rivals facing each other thrice in the tournament, if they reach Super 4s, and qualify for the final.
“The schedule is out and you have to qualify for the Super4s to play Pakistan three times, so one step at a time. I don’t believe in counting my chickens too much. I want to play one game at a time,” said Team India head coach Rahul Dravid.
The schedule for the Men's Asia Cup 2023 has been announced 📆 pic.twitter.com/JxYyEZ4pjc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 19, 2023
India-Pakistan final will be a great contest: Rahul Dravid
Team India coach Rahul Dravid further expressed that the team needs to play well in the initial round to qualify for the Super 4s stages. They face Pakistan and Nepal in the first round. He also added that if India and Pakistan both reach the finals, it will be a great contest between the arch-rivals. Rahul Dravid said,
“We know we have to play Pakistan and Nepal in the first two games, we need to focus on that, we need to play good cricket, we need to win those games and then see where the tournament goes. If we get the opportunity to play them three times, I think that is fantastic, that means we reach the final of the tournament and hopefully Pakistan reach the final as well.
That will be a great contest and great for us and we certainly aim to do that, we certainly want to play right up to the final and win that final but we have to take the first two steps before.”
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