Pakistan began their Asia Cup campaign against Nepal today in the sweltering heat of Multan.
This represents a momentous return of multi-team international cricket to Pakistan after an almost 15-year absence.
Attack Incident on Sri Lankan Team in 2009
Pakistan’s cricket journey has been difficult since the horrific terrorist assault on the Sri Lankan squad in Lahore in March 2009.
As a result of the incident, Pakistan lost not only the chance to host the Champions Trophy, but also its share of World Cup matches in 2011.
Due to security concerns in the aftermath of the incident, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member states resisted visiting Pakistan.
As a result, Pakistan went nearly eight years without hosting any international games against top-tier teams.
Asia Cup 2023 Importance For Pakistan
The 2023 Asia Cup is extremely important for Pakistan because it represents the country’s return to hosting international matches.
Pakistan has also been given the possibility to host the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan appears well-positioned to clinch a comfortable victory against Nepal, having recently ascended to the top spot in the ODI rankings following a clean sweep of the ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka.
In contrast, Nepal is competing in its first Asia Cup and has only two players with T20 league experience, leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee.
Except for Lamichhane, who has played in the Pakistan Super League, the rest of the Nepali players have had little exposure to the playing conditions in Multan.
Nepal’s Position in ODI’s Rankings
Despite gaining ODI status in 2018, Nepal is placed 15th in the 50-over format, showing its close proximity to qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, which will feature 14 nations.
After coming in Pakistan a week early, Nepal’s performance versus tournament favorite Pakistan will be eagerly watched.
While Pakistan is only scheduled to play two matches at home and the rest in Sri Lanka, including a highly anticipated match against India, the match against Nepal provides an opportunity for Pakistani players to develop their talents.
Given the city’s hot temperature, both sides are likely to rely heavily on their spinners to make an influence on the game.
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