Asia Cup 2018 Final, India vs Bangladesh: Here’s the match preview along with the head-to-head record, betting odds and other stats.
While fans were eager to watch another Indo-Pak battle in the final of the Asia Cup, six-time Asia Cup champions India are set to face Bangladesh in the title clash on Friday. Bangladesh secured a 36-run victory over Sarfraz Ahmed’s men in the last Super Four match on Wednesday. India have been unbeaten throughout the tournament and even when they fielded a sort of second-string side against Afghanistan, the match ended in a second-last ball tie. Bangladesh, on the other hand, have already suffered a hammering against India, suffering a 7-wicket defeat.

23/09 – 05:30 PM +06
3rd Match, Super Four, Asia Cup at Dubai, Sep 23 2018

Toss:  Pakistan
Match: India 

05:30 PM +06
2nd Match, Super Four, at Abu Dhabi, Sep 21 2018

Toss: Afghanistan
Match: Pakistan

When: September 19, 2018, 3:30 PM Local time, 5:00 PM IST

Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium

What to expect: It’s the sort of fixture that even sapping Dubai heat won’t have a bearing on. A packed house, braving the weather, is expected to grace the stadium. All the pitches used in the tournament so far have been slow, and Wednesday’s is going to be no exception.

Team News:

India

India have a big overnight decision to make. Jasprit Bumrah has to return for the Pakistan clash, but it would be cruel on Khaleel Ahmed, if it is at his expense. Shardul Thakur had an ordinary evening, and should make way.

The next big call is in the top-order. The bench has Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul waiting to get in, but with Ambati Rayudu performing well and Kedar Jadhav doubling up as the sixth bowling option, only one player can be relegated to the bench – Dinesh Karthik. KL Rahul coming in would mean he either bats at 4 or takes No.3 and Rayudu moves a spot down.

If Pandya is indeed a player they cannot do without – which is likely to be the case – then Khaleel will have to be benched.

Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, KL Rahul/Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya/Khaleel Ahmed

Pakistan

Mohammad Amir has three wickets in eight ODIs in 2018 but Sarfraz Ahmed came to his strike pacer’s defence in a press conference, even going to the extent of citing the example of Mohammed Shami, who he felt bowled well in the Tests in England but didn’t have too many wickets to show for the effort.

There’s logic in giving the left-armer a rest, considering they have enough similar fast bowlers to trouble the Indian batsmen and the fact that they’ve already made it to the Super Four stage.

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan, Mohammad Amir/Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali

Did you know:

– Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has three hundreds and a half-century in his last five ODI outings

– If Yuzvendra Chahal picks two wickets against Pakistan, he’ll become India’s third fastest to 50 ODI wickets (in 27 matches) – behind Ajit Agarkar (23 matches) and Kuldeep Yadav (24 matches).

Asia Cup 2018: The Asia Cup 2018 is scheduled from 15 to 28 September in Dubai and Abu Dhabi comprising five full members; India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Asia Cup 2018: The Asia Cup 2018 is scheduled from 15 to 28 September in Dubai and Abu Dhabi comprising five full members; India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Asia Cup 2018: The Asia Cup 2018 is scheduled from 15 to 28 September in Dubai and Abu Dhabi comprising five full members; India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.