Asia Cup 2023: India Are Under Tremendous Pressure When They Face Pakistan - Salman Butt

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt recently spoke about the Idnia-Pakistan rivalry on The Nadir Ali podcast. With the Asia Cup approaching closer, he spoke about this intense rivalry and how it has changed over the years.

Speaking at the podcast, Salman Butt said that whenever India play against Pakistan, pressure is always on India and not on Pakistan. He added saying that India’s losses to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final and the ICC World Cup 2021 league game has made the side conscious about playing Pakistan in recent times.

“When we face India, the pressure is on them, not on us. When I was playing, there was not even a single day when we thought that they would beat us. Pakistan won against India in the Asia Cup, the Champions Trophy final, at the T20 World Cup in 2021, and also recently won the ACC Emerging Cup final,” said Butt.

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Pakistan Played Better Cricket In Knockout Matches Than India: Salman Butt

He further highlighted India’s failure to win an ICC title in the last decade adding that Pakistan have been better compared to India in knockout matches. For the unversed, Pakistan lost the 2021 T20 World Cup semi-final to Australia and the 2022 T20 World Cup final to England.

“Pakistan have played better cricket in knockout matches. India, on the other hand, lost two WTC finals and have not won knockout matches for several years now,” Butt added saying.

India and Pakistan will lock horns in the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC World Cup tournaments. India and Pakistan are placed along with Nepal in Group A in Asia Cup 2023.

Talking about the IND-PAK rivalry in the Asia Cup, Both teams have played 13 ODI matches in the tournament with India winning 8 matches and Pakistan five. In the Asia Cup T20 format, India have won twice and Pakistan just once.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2023: PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf Opens Up On Controversy Surrounding Tournament’s Schedule Announcement

The former Pakistan skipper also spoke about Babar Azam not getting a space in the ICC World Cup 2023 promo. There was just a short clip of Shaheen Afridi and nothing more to be happy about for the Pakistan fans.

“Why do you even expect anything from them? Have they ever done anything good with you? The one who made the promo also knew that it would spark a debate. He would be thinking that he had succeeded. We should not give them so much value that it disturbs us. They made a promo, so we should also make our own and air it. ICC is BCCI. The ICC runs on a financial model, and it is the BCCI that funds it” Butt concluded saying.

India and Pakistan will meet on September 2 in Pallekelein Asia Cup 2023. Both teams can also meet in the Super 4 stage and the final.

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