Mahela Jayawardane believes Pakistan have the 'X-factor' in the Asia Cup

Waseem Ahmed 20:33 15/09/2018
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  • Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardane believes India and Pakistan will be the favourites to lift the Asia Cup which got underway on Saturday at Dubai.

    Both Pakistan and India have been placed in Group A of the six-team competition with Hong Kong being the third team.

    The two arch-rivals are slated to lock horns on September 19 at Dubai in what will be their first meeting since the ICC Champions Trophy final in England last year.

    The Sri Lankan batting great believes India will still be a force in the tournament despite missing the services of skipper Virat Kohli.

    “The tournament is, of course, special also because it’s one of the few occasions when we get to witness the spectacle and drama of an India v Pakistan contest,” Jayawardane wrote in his blog for the Times of India.

    India and Pakistan will renew their long-standing rivalry.

    India and Pakistan will renew their long-standing rivalry.

    “It’s always a mouth-watering one and millions will be looking forward to the big game next Wednesday. Both teams are probably also the favourites going into the tournament, although it remains an open competition by virtue of the fact that no team is dominating away from home right now. India, even without Virat Kohli, has some formidable players and a great balance,” he added.

    With Pakistan coming into the tournament on the back of some impressive limited-overs form, Jayawardane believes the men in green have the ‘X-factor’ going for them.

    “Pakistan, meanwhile, always have the X-factor. They have the greater experience of UAE conditions, it being their second home for the past decade but that won’t be an overwhelming advantage,” he wrote.

    “Pakistan can draw upon their fast bowlers, as they have done historically. They have form in multinational tournaments, having won the ICC Champions Trophy.”

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