While Team India are not expected to break much sweat when they take on minnows Hong Kong today in their Asia Cup opening match at Dubai, all eyes will be on the much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Wednesday. Going by the trend in the last few years, India have largely dominated Pakistan. This time around though, the contest is most likely to be a closely-fought one, felt former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar.

India-Pakistan contests are mostly witnessed only in ICC World Cups [50 overs, T20] and in the Asia Cup due to the political tension between the two nations. India thumped Pakistan by eight wickets when they clashed in the 2013 Champions Trophy at Edgbaston. In the 2015 World Cup, India won by 76 runs at the Adelaide Oval. Pakistan suffered another crushing defeat in the 2017 Champions Trophy where they lost by 124 runs in the group stage. However, in the same tournament, Pakistan avenged their loss with a thumping 180-run victory in the final. There has only been one recent close contest.