The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled to get commenced on September 15 with the clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The tournament will be a witness to 13 matches and the final will be played on September 28 in Dubai. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be locking horns with each other in the tournament’s much-awaited clash on September 19.

In the meantime, Zaheer Abbas reckons the high-voltage clash as the most essential face-off in the multi-nation tournament. Moreover, he put forth Pakistan as the favorites to win the title for the third time owing to their stupendous form of late, especially in the 50-overs format.

As quoted in International Business Times, Abbas said, “The way Pakistan is playing these days I believe that they would be the favorites for the Asia Cup title. Then there would be India and I think that the main battle for supremacy is going to be fought between these two teams. That [India vs Pakistan] is going to be the most important game of the tournament. Everybody likes to watch Pakistan-India games as they produce high-voltage action.”

ALSO READ: Hong Kong earns ODI status for 2018 Asia Cup

India will be traveling to UAE for Asia cup 2018 without their regular skipper Virat Kohli and his absence has been deemed to push the Men in Blue to some extent. Abbas also said that India will dearly miss the Delhi-born cricketer to some extent.

The former cricketer said, “Kohli is India’s biggest match-winner and his team is certainly going to miss him in the Asia Cup. That said, the Indians have some really good ODI players in their squad.”

Pakistan has an impressive record against India in the UAE. They have played 26 matches out of which they have registered a victory in 19 of them. Pakistan has won the Asia Cup in 2000 and 2012 respectively and Sarfraz Ahmed’s men will be hoping to add to the tally.