Pakistan always have the X-factor: Mahela Jayawardena

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene thinks arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be the favourites to win Asia Cup which got underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday though added that the latter have the ‘X-factor’ going for them. Jayawardene, who led Sri Lanka to win the tournament in Pakistan in 2008 defeating India in the final, is the island nation’s third-highest scorer in the 50-over format.

India and Pakistan have been clubbed with qualifiers Hong Kong in Group A of the tournament and will lock horns on September 19. Given the tournament’s format whereby the top two teams from the two groups will advance to the Super Four stage and play each other again, the two sides are highly likely to play each other again on September 23. This will be the first meeting between the two Asian powerhouses since the Pakistanis thrashed India by 180 runs in the final of the Champions Trophy in England in June last year.

The 41-year-old former cricketer, who played a record 443 ODIs for Sri Lanka, felt India will still be a force in the tournament despite the absence of their regular captain Virat Kohli. The title defenders will be led by Rohit Sharma in this tournament.

Jayawardene waiting for India-Pakistan clash

“The tournament is, of course, special also because it’s one of the few occasions when we get to witness the spectacle and drama of an India v Pakistan contest. It’s always a mouth-watering one and millions will be looking forward to the big game next Wednesday.

Both teams are probably also the favourites going into the tournament, although it remains an open competition by virtue of the fact that no team is dominating away from home right now. India, even without Virat Kohli, has some formidable players and a great balance,” he wrote in his column for The Times of India (TOI).

Jayawardene praised Pakistan, too, saying they have the ‘X-factor’ going in their favour. Sarfraz Ahmed’s side has a string of success in the limited-overs cricket and has beaten teams like India and Australia in multi-lateral tournament finals in the recent past. The UAE has also been their home ground since international cricket has remained suspended on their soil.

“Pakistan, meanwhile, always have the X-factor. They have the greater experience of UAE conditions, it being their second home for the past decade but that won’t be an overwhelming advantage. Pakistan can draw upon their fast bowlers, as they have done historically. They have form in multinational tournaments, having won the ICC Champions Trophy,” he added.

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