ASIA CUP SPECIAL: INDIA VS PAKISTAN in Cricket,Politics,Entertainment! Big Analysis

The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan will set the stage on fire when the two teams face each other in the Asia Cup 2018 clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Sunday. The two teams are facing each other for the first time in the United Arab Emirates since 2006, the last of their regular matches which were also held in Sharjah between 1984-2000. The game is also the first between the sub-continent rivals since Pakistan thumped India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Oval in June last year.

Out of the 12 Asia Cup matches played between the two teams, India have won six times (5 ODIs and one T20I) while Pakistan have won on five occasions. One match ended with no result.

When will the Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match be played?

The Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match will be played on 23 September , 2018.

Where will the Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match be played?

The Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

What time does the Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match begin?

The Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match will begin at 5pm (IST).

Which TV channels will telecast the Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan?

The Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match will be telecasted on the Star Sports Network.

How do I watch online live streaming of the Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match?

The Asia Cup 2018, India vs Pakistan match live streaming will be available on Hotstar. 

Defending champions India will be up against arch-rivals Pakistan in their third match of the Asia Cup on September 23 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. In the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will be leading the side in the tournament. Virat Kohli has been rested for the competition to help his aching back after a gruelling tour of England. But Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed refused to accept Virat Kohli's absence will make much difference.

"No doubt he (Kohli) is their captain and a world-class batsman but I think they (India) have a good team even without Kohli," Sarfraz told media on Monday, a day after his team thumped qualifiers Hong Kong in their first match of the tournament.

"They have good players who have done well for India. So I don't think it will make much difference to India. Their batting is very strong so I can say that it will be a good match," the Pakistan captain said.

Sarfraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan in that memorable Champions Trophy triumph, denied that his team will have a psychological advantage.

"We will not take that Champions Trophy win in our minds," Sarfraz said.

"That was a different atmosphere (in London) and conditions. It was a year ago so that's history so we will enter the ground with a new strategy and passion," he said.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also predicted that the high-voltage Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan would be an even contest.

"It will be a 50-50 contest between India and Pakistan," Ganguly said on the sidelines of a promotional event.

Asked if regular captain Kohli's absence would be a factor, Ganguly said, "Virat Kohli's absence won't be a factor, they are a better side."

India are the most successful side in the Asia Cup, having won the title a total of six times, while Pakistan have won twice.

History - India vs Pakistan:

Pakistan in India (1952/1953)

1st Test at Delhi - Oct 16-18, 1952, India won by an innings and 70 runs (India 372; Pakistan 150 and 152 (f/o))

2nd Test at Lucknow - Oct 23-26, 1952, Pakistan won by an innings and 43 runs (India 106 and 182; Pakistan 331)

3rd Test at Mumbai (BS) - Nov 13-16, 1952, India won by 10 wickets (Pakistan 186 and 242; India 387/4d and 45/0)

4th Test at Chennai - Nov 28-Dec 1, 1952, Match drawn (Pakistan 344; India 175/6)

5th Test at Kolkata - Dec 12-15, 1952, Match drawn (Pakistan 257 and 236/7d; India 397 and 28/0)

Result India 2, Pakistan 1, Drawn 2

India in Pakistan (1954/1955)

1st Test at Dhaka - Jan 1-4, 1955, Match drawn (Pakistan 257 and 158; India 148 and 147/2)

2nd Test at Bahawalpur - Jan 15-18, 1955, Match drawn (India 235 and 209/5; Pakistan 312/9d)

3rd Test at Lahore - Jan 29-Feb 1, 1955, Match drawn (Pakistan 328 and 136/5d; India 251 and 74/2)

4th Test at Peshawar - Feb 13-16, 1955, Match drawn (Pakistan 188 and 182; India 245 and 23/1)

5th Test at Karachi - Feb 26-Mar 1, 1955, Match drawn (Pakistan 162 and 241/5d; India 145 and 69/2)

Result Drawn 5

Pakistan in India (1960/1961)

1st Test at Mumbai (BS) - Dec 2-7, 1960, Match drawn (Pakistan 350 and 166/4; India 449/9d)

2nd Test at Kanpur - Dec 16-21, 1960, Match drawn (Pakistan 335 and 140/3; India 404)

3rd Test at Kolkata - Dec 30, 1960 - Jan 4, 1961, Match drawn (Pakistan 301 and 146/3d; India 180 and 127/4)

4th Test at Chennai - Jan 13-18, 1961, Match drawn (Pakistan 448/8d and 59/0; India 539/9d)

5th Test at Delhi - Feb 8-13, 1961, Match drawn (India 463 and 16/0; Pakistan 286 and 250 (f/o)

Result Drawn 5

India in Pakistan (1978/1979)

1st Test at Faisalabad - Oct 16-21, 1978, Match drawn (Pakistan 503/8d and 264/4d; India 462/9d and 43/0)

2nd Test at Lahore - Oct 27-Nov 1, 1978, Pakistan won by 8 wickets (India 199 and 465; Pakistan 539/6d and 128/2)

3rd Test at Karachi - Nov 14-19, 1978, Pakistan won by 8 wickets (India 344 and 300; Pakistan 481/9d and 164/2)

Result Pakistan 2, Drawn 1

Pakistan in India (1979/1980)

1st Test at Bangalore - Nov 21-26, 1979, Match drawn (Pakistan 431/9d and 108/2; India 416)

2nd Test at Delhi - Dec 4-9, 1979, Match drawn (Pakistan 273 and 242; India 126 and 364/6)

3rd Test at Mumbai - Dec 16-20, 1979, India won by 131 runs (India 334 and 160; Pakistan 173 and 190)

4th Test at Kanpur - Dec 25-30, 1979, Match drawn (India 162 and 193/2; Pakistan 249)

5th Test at Chennai - Jan 15-20, 1980, India won by 10 wickets (Pakistan 272 and 233; India 430 and 78/0)

6th Test at Kolkata - Jan 29-Feb 3, 1980, Match drawn (India 331 and 205; Pakistan 272/4d and 179/6)

Result India 2, Drawn 4

India in Pakistan (1982/1983)

1st Test at Lahore - Dec 10-15, 1982, Match drawn (Pakistan 485 and 135/1; India 379)

2nd Test at Karachi - Dec 23-27, 1982, Pakistan won by an innings and 86 runs (India 169 and 197; Pakistan 452)

3rd Test at Faisalabad - Jan 3-8, 1983, Pakistan won by 10 wickets (India 372 and 286; Pakistan 652 and 10/0)

4th Test at Hyderabad (Sind) - Jan 14-19, 1983, Pakistan won by an innings and 119 runs (Pakistan 581/3d; India 189 and 273 (f/o))

5th Test at Lahore - Jan 23-28, 1983, Match drawn (Pakistan 323; India 235/3)

6th Test at Karachi - Jan 30-Feb 4, 1983, Match drawn (India 393/8d and 224/2; Pakistan 420/6d)

Result Pakistan 3, Drawn 3

Pakistan in India (1983/1984)

1st Test at Bangalore - Sep 14-19, 1983, Match drawn (India 275 and 176/0; Pakistan 288)

2nd Test at Jalandhar - Sep 24-29, 1983, Match drawn (Pakistan 337 and 16/0; India 374)

3rd Test at Nagpur - Oct 5-10, 1983, Match drawn (India 245 and 262/8d; Pakistan 322 and 42/1)

Result Drawn 3

India in Pakistan (1984/1985)

1st Test at Lahore - Oct 17-22, 1984, Match drawn (Pakistan 428/9d; India 156 and 371/6 (f/o))

2nd Test at Faisalabad - Oct 24-29, 1984, Match drawn (India 500; Pakistan 674/6)

3rd Test at Karachi - Nov 4-9, 1984, Match cancelled without a ball bowled)

Result Drawn 2

Pakistan in India (1986/1987)

1st Test at Chennai - Feb 3-8, 1987, Match drawn (Pakistan 487/9d and 182/3; India 527/9d)

2nd Test at Kolkata - Feb 11-16, 1987, Match drawn (India 403 and 181/3d; Pakistan 229 and 179/5)

3rd Test at Jaipur - Feb 21-26, 1987, Match drawn (India 465/8d and 114/2; Pakistan 341)

4th Test at Ahmedabad - Mar 4-9, 1987, Match drawn (Pakistan 395 and 135/2; India 323)

5th Test at Bangalore - Mar 13-17, 1987, Pakistan won by 16 runs (Pakistan 116 and 249; India 145 and 204)

Result Pakistan 1, Drawn 4

India in Pakistan (1989/1990)

1st Test at Karachi - Nov 15-20, 1989, Match drawn (Pakistan 409 and 305/5d; India 262 and 303/3)

2nd Test at Faisalabad - Nov 23-28, 1989, Match drawn (India 288 and 398/7; Pakistan 423/9d)

3rd Test at Lahore - Dec 1-6, 1989, Match drawn (India 509; Pakistan 699/5)

4th Test at Sialkot - Dec 9-14, 1989, Match drawn (India 324 and 234/7; Pakistan 250)

Result Drawn 4

Pakistan in India (1998/1999)

1st Test at Chennai - Jan 28-31, 1999, Pakistan won by 12 runs (Pakistan 238 and 286; India 254 and 258)

2nd Test at Delhi - Feb 4-7, 1999, India won by 212 runs (India 252 and 339; Pakistan 172 and 207)

Result India 1, Pakistan 1

Asian Test Championship in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (1998/99)

1st Match: India v Pakistan at Kolkata - Feb 16-20, 1999, Pakistan won by 46 runs (Pakistan 185 and 316; India 223 and 232)

2nd Match: Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (SSC) - Feb 24-28, 1999, Match drawn (India 518/7d and 306/5; Sri Lanka 485)

3rd Match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lahore - Mar 4-8, 1999, Match drawn (Pakistan 398 and 314/8d; Sri Lanka 328 and 165/2)

Final: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Dhaka - Mar 12-15, 1999, Pakistan won by an innings and 175 runs (Sri Lanka 231 and 188; Pakistan 594)

Winner Pakistan

India in Pakistan (2003/2004)

1st Test at Multan - Mar 28-Apr 1, 2004, India won by an innings and 52 runs (India 675/5d; Pakistan 407 and 216 (f/o))

2nd Test at Lahore - Apr 5-8, 2004, Pakistan won by 9 wickets (India 287 and 241; Pakistan 489 and 40/1)

3rd Test at Rawalpindi - Apr 13-16, 2004, India won by an innings and 131 runs (Pakistan 224 and 245; India 600)

Result India 2, Pakistan 1

Pakistan in India (2004/2005)

1st Test at Mohali - Mar 8-12, 2005, Match drawn (Pakistan 312 and 496/9d; India 516 and 85/1)

2nd Test at Kolkata - Mar 16-20, 2005, India won by 195 runs (India 407 and 407/9d; Pakistan 393 and 226)

3rd Test at Bangalore - Mar 24-28, 2005, Pakistan won by 168 runs (Pakistan 570 and 261/2d; India 449 and 214)

Result India 1, Pakistan 1, Drawn 1

India in Pakistan (2005/2006)

1st Test at Lahore - Jan 13-17, 2006, Match drawn (Pakistan 679/7d; India 410/1)

2nd Test at Faisalabad - Jan 21-25, 2006, Match drawn (Pakistan 588 and 490/8d; India 603 and 21/0)

3rd Test at Karachi - Jan 29-Feb 1, 2006, Pakistan won by 341 runs (Pakistan 245 and 599/7d; India 238 and 265)

Result Pakistan 1, Drawn 2

Pakistan in India (2007/2008)

1st Test at Delhi - Nov 22-26, 2007, India won by 6 wickets (Pakistan 231 and 247; India 276 and 203/4)

2nd Test at Kolkata - Nov 30-Dec 4, 2007, Match drawn (India 616/5d and 184/4d; Pakistan 456 and 214/4)

3rd Test at Bangalore - Dec 8-12, 2007, Match drawn (India 626 and 284/6d; Pakistan 537 and 162/7)

Result India 1, Drawn 2

Overall Test Records (Since 1952)

S#	YEAR	VENUE	TOTAL	INDIA	PAKISTAN	DRAWN
1.	1952/53	India	5	2	1	2
2.	1954/55	Pakistan	5	-	-	5
3.	1960/61	India	5	-	-	5
4.	1978/79	Pakistan	3	-	2	1
5.	1979/80	India	6	2	-	4
6.	1982/83	Pakistan	6	-	3	3
7.	1983/84	India	3	-	-	3
8.	1984/85	Pakistan	2	-	-	2
9.	1986/87	India	5	-	1	4
10.	1989/90	Pakistan	4	-	-	4
11.	1998/99	India	2	1	1	-
12.	1998/99	Asian Test Championship	1	-	1	-
13.	2003/04	Pakistan	3	2	1	-
14.	2004/05	India	3	1	1	1
15.	2005/06	Pakistan	3	-	1	2
16.	2007/08	India	3	1	-	2
Total			59	9	12	38

India v Pakistan - One-Day Internationals (Since 1978)

Total Played: 129

India won: 52

Pakistan won: 73

No Result: 4

First Match: 1st ODI, India won by 4 runs at Ayub National Stadium, Quetta, on Oct 01, 1978

Last Match: Final in 2017 ICC Champions Trophy - Pakistan won by 180 runs at Kennington Oval, London on June 18, 2017

India vs Pakistan - Twenty20 Internationals (Since 2007)

Total Played: 8

India won: 7 (India won one tie match by bowled out)

Pakistan : 1 

First Game : ICC World Twenty20 - 10th match, Group D, Match tied (India won the bowl-out) at Kingsmead, Durban (neutral venue), on September 14, 2007

Last Match: 19th match, ICC World T20 2016 - India won by six wickets at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 19, 2016

In political science literature, Pakistan and India's apparently divergent political trajectories are often treated as a puzzle. Despite the fact that both countries were carved out of the British empire, India has ended up as a democracy with civilians firmly in control, whereas Pakistan has witnessed a number of direct military rules and has always suffered from severe civil-military imbalance. Moreover, India has managed its ethnic and communal diversity much better than Pakistan.

So what are the reasons?

Firstly, one has to understand that the military in weak Third World countries is often the only well-disciplined, centralised and sophisticated institution. Due to the relative weakness of democratic institutions, the military often intervenes to bring "stability" and restore order. The Third World has thus witnessed a number of coups and Pakistan is no exception. And though military interventions are by no means desirable, they are understandable in the context of tremulous political cultures.

In Pakistan, the genesis of military rule is rooted in the way the Pakistan movement shaped up -- and the complex interplay of the dynamics of the movement with the cultural and political characteristics of the region which eventually became Pakistan.

When compared to India's freedom struggle, Pakistan's striving for independence became a mass movement at a very late stage. The Congress was born in 1885 and by the 1920s, India's independence movement had large mass support. On the other hand, the Muslim League even in early 1940s had not garnered the same kind of popular support. Ironically, the areas where it was actually more influential subsequently became part of India.

It was only in the second half of the 1940s that the Muslim League made built a mass base in the areas which subsequently became Pakistan.

These regional factors played an important role in shaping the respective roles of the military in both countries. In India, the political class was dominant from the beginning and moreover the public did not perceive the army as saviours; after all, the Indian army had served loyally under the British empire. The entrenched political culture ensured that the Indian movement for freedom made a smooth transition into a functioning democracy from the word go.

Moreover, Nehru remained at the political helm in the initial years of independence and provided much-needed political stability. The military was never in a position to stage a coup since India lacked the necessary chaos for it to intervene and because the army had an "image" issue due to its close association with colonial rule. Nehru's revered and towering status also prevented the development of any militaristic Bonapartism.

Pakistan, however, was founded in an area which had already been militarized. Most of the recruitment was taking place from the so-called "martial races" of Punjab and what is now Khyber Pukhtunkhawa. Moreover, the state apparatus was stronger in Punjab and local politicians had to rely a lot on the civil bureaucracy in order to get things "done". The reliance of the political class on the state apparatus in areas falling under West Pakistan was much greater than in areas which later became India.

When Pakistan came into being, the Muslim League despite having gained support in the last two years was still not a deeply rooted political party in West Pakistan. The main leaders of the League actually belonged to regions which were in India and when they came to Pakistan, they were without the same kind of support. In addition, Jinnah through charismatic did not live long and his one-year rule was as Governor General and highly personalised.

"An extremely important factor was the fear of annexation by India. To a certain extent it was also whipped up by the establishment to keep the country 'united'. "

While government heads kept changing, the Chief of Army Staff continued to gain power. Moreover, while India saw several different army chiefs in the decade following independence, Pakistan persisted with just one, General Ayub Khan.

An extremely important factor was the fear of annexation by India. To a certain extent it was also whipped up by the establishment to keep the country "united". Pakistan constantly had to be in the state of readiness for war. The security apparatus had to be given power and even autonomy.

The constant fear of India also meant that defense spending had to be kept very high. Repeated changes of governments and chaotic situations provided the impetus for the military intervention. And when Ayub Khan staged his coup in 1958, was actually a sigh of relief.

The political culture of India, mainly due to the way its independence struggle unfolded and because of the presence of Nehru, Patel and extraordinary individuals like Dr. Ambedkar, ensured that it remained a democracy despite the fact that in pure historical and socioeconomic terms, there was little difference between the two countries.

"In India, connecting everything together was the deep belief in secularism and federalism... Compared to Pakistan, India has also been better able to cultivate what is known as civic nationalism."

Over time, these initial differences became institutionalized and both countries stayed the course on the different trajectories they had taken.

In India, connecting everything together was the deep belief in secularism and federalism. Secularism ensured that communal rifts did not become too deep and federalism kept ethno-linguistic divisions in check. Compared to Pakistan, India has also been better able to cultivate what is known as civic nationalism.

Right now, India is once again at a crossroads. The Modi Sarkar is in power, and although Indians by and large voted in the BJP for its promises of better governance, hardliners and social conservatives have been trying to push the government towards a communal agenda. I sincerely hope that the Modi government fully understands that giving in to such demands would reverse the gains that India has made since Independence.

Pakistani TV serials on Indian Television might have just become a thing of the past, after ZEE TV banned Pak shows from airing in India.

But that doesn't erase the history. Indian viewers have consumed content from Pakistan for the past 30 years, starting from 1980s.

Though Indian TV shows offer a wide variety of content in all genres, there is something about Pakistani shows that appeal to Indian viewers. Maybe it's the novely of the treatment of these shows or maybe it's the cultural connect that works. That's the reason Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed became oversight stars with their TV shows in India.

Though Indian viewers were largely exposed to Pakistani serials just recently in 2014 when a new channel, Zindagi started showing Pakistani classics, but in reality, the shows from our neighbouring country had started making inroads in India way back in 1980s.

We recall the landmark Pakistani TV shows over the years that captured the fancy of Indian viewers, thanks to their story, presentation and characters.

1. Zindagi Gulzar Hai: This was the show that made Pakistani actor Fawad Khan a popular face in India. The show that premiered in 2012 on Hum TV in Pakistan was based on a novel by Umera Ahmad and was also inspired from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was a love story of Kashaf played by Sanam Saeed and Zaroon played by Fawad Khan. It was a classic poor girl and a rich boy love story and focussed on women's struggle in the orthodox Pakistani society. The show instantly became a hit in Pakistan. And when the show travelled to India two years later, it re-created the history. The charms of the male protagonists, played by Fawad Khan floored the Indian female fans.

2. Bakra Qistoan Pay: In late 1980s when video cassettes were one of the sources of entertainment in India, one Pakistani show that made Indians laugh was Bakra Qistoan Pay. Hosted by Pakistani stand-up comedian Umer Sharif and Moin Akhtar, it was a comedy show. In fact, Kapil Sharma's Comedy Nights With Kapil and The Kapil Sharma Show has also taken inspiration from this hit Pakistani comedy series.

3. Humsafar: This was Fawad Khan's second show in India that came out soon after the release of his debut film Khoobsurat in 2015. The chemistry of Mahira and Fawad as Khirad and Asher was loved by Indian viewers. It was not just Fawad anymore. Indian viewers also got enamoured with the beauty of Mahira Khan. The show revolved around the breakup of a married couple. Mahira became a popular face after the show in India and she was immediately signed on for SRK's Raees, which is set to release this year.

4. Dhoop Kinare: The matured love story of a young lady doctor and a senior professor was a bold and shocking love story for Indians in 80s. Nevertheless, Dhoop Kinare was loved by us and watched by many during the decade. It initially aired on Pakistan TV network. Two doctors Dr Ahmed and Dr Zoya fall in love despite their age difference and broke society stereotypes. This was the first TV series that showed the modern facet of Pakistan. The show was bolder than any of the Indian TV shows at that time. It was later adapted in India by Sony TV as Kuch To Log Kahenge in 2011 but it did not work.

5. Mere Qaatil Mere Dildaar: The Pakistani show, starring Pak superstars Ahsaan Khan and Mehwish Hayat was the story of love, re-marriage, betrayal and revenge. The show first aired in Pakistan in 2011 on Hum TV; it came to India on Zindagi, three years later in 2014.

 
6. Aunn Zara: Aunn Zara was the first feel good TV serial from Pakistan that became quite popular in India as it was very similar to Indian shows. The context of Pakistan and a new milieu gave the show a different flavour. It was a family comedy show of two people with different personalities--Aunn and Zaara who are married to each other.

Much like Indian serials, this show had dance, music, mother-in-law, comedy, romance and the drama in equal measures. Also Indian audiences liked the lead pair Maya Ali and Osman Khalid Bhatt's love-hate chemistry. But the real stars of the show were two cute senior actress Nasreen Qureshi--the grand mother and Hina Bayat--the mother-in-law.

7. Buddha Ghar Pe Hai: After the success of Bakra Qistaon Pay, many comedy dramas from Pakistan came, but only one stood out--Buddha Ghar Pe Hai, starring Umer Sharif came out in 1989. The Umer and Moin combination entertained Indians with this hilarious comedy show. Umer Sharif is the mentor of many comedians including Shakeel who is still entertaining people in India with shows like Comedy Nights Bachao and Comedy Circus.

8. Dastaan: It is one of the best TV serials on India-Pakistan partition along with Tamas and Buniyaad. Though many Indians found the show anti-India, the Fawad Khan retro show had a different kind of appeal. It came to India as Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam in 2015 on Zindagi. In Pakistan, it had aired in 2010 on Hum TV and was one of Fawad Khan's initial TV shows. In India, the serial tried to encash Fawad's star status and was liked for the 1940s-style romance. It was a tragic love story of Bano played by Sanam Baloch and Hassan played by Fawad who get separated during India-Pakistan partition. The show was a big hit in Pakistan, while in India, the audiences watched it for the lead pair's chemistry and the flow of the story. Though the story and the context was perceived slightly anti-India from subjectivity point of view, but was a novel and unconventional attempt by makers across the border.

9. Ankahi: This 1982 soap was first aired in PTV and revolved around the strong and endearing Sana (played by Shehnaz Sheikh), who's ambitious and wants to earn money for her brother's heart surgery. When she really lands a job, she is clumsy at it and that creates some hilarious sequences. Bollywood movie Chal Mera Bhai is said to be inspired by the Pak serial. It starred  Shehnaz Sheikh, Shakeel, Javed Sheikh, Saleem Nasir, Jamshed Ansari among others.

10. Waris: A 1980 show revolved around a Pakistani feudal lord Chaudhry Hashmat (Mehboob Alam). He ruled Sikandarpur with an iron grip. Along with his son Yaqub and two grandsons Chaudhry Anwar Ali and Chaudhry Niaz Ali, he struggles to hold on to his land which is the proposed site for a dam. It had a total of 13 episodes and it was aired on PTV. It starred Abid Ali, Mehboob Alam, Samina Ahmad among others.