Asia Cup 2018: Sunil Gavaskar finds one aspect of the event 'hard to understand'

India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup and quite expectantly, they are touted as one of the favourites to win this year’s championship. The team, captained by Rohit Sharma, is scheduled to play their first match against qualifying team Hong Kong at Dubai International Cricket Stadium today after which they will cross swords with arch-rivals Pakistan at the same venue.

However, both their group matches will be played on back-to-back days- September 18 and 19 respectively. Thereafter reports surrounding the BCCI’s dissatisfaction over the schedule did the rounds. However, Rahul Johri, the CEO of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), quashed all doubts over the matter, mentioning that there won’t be any change in India’s schedule in the event.

Hong Kong will be looking to better their efforts against India

In the meantime, Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian cricketer, finds the organisers’ decision to schedule back-to-back matches baffling. Moreover, the cricketer turned commentator reckons that Hong Kong, after their eight-wicket defeat against Pakistan, will want to put their best foot forward against the Men in Blue. Gavaskar also hailed Anshuman Rath and Co for their resolute shows in the qualifying round.

“India’s first game against Hong Kong will be a nice warmup for the sterner battle the next day against Pakistan. How the organisers scheduled two back-to-back games for India – with the second game being against Pakistan – is hard to understand, but that’s the way it is,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for The Times of India (TOI).

“Hong Kong have got to the Emirates after a hard-fought qualifying event, beating some other fancied associate teams in the bargain. They were overwhelmed by Pakistan in their first game and will now be looking to better their efforts against India,” the 69-year-old added.

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