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Reigning champions India will look to continue their dominance in the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup, which returns after a gap of four years, scheduled to be played between August 27 and September 11. 

Since the inception of the Asia Cup cricket tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1984, the Indian cricket team has been the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having clinched the title a record seven times (six ODI and one T20I). 

The Asia Cup 2022 will be the 15th edition of the continental showpiece event. The marquee Asian tournament was earlier scheduled to be held in September 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Originally scheduled to be hosted in Sri Lanka, the Asia Cup 2022 has been moved to the UAE due to the economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka. 

The upcoming Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format for just the second time in its history. The inaugural T20I edition of the Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh in 2016. MS Dhoni-led India beat hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets in the final in Mirpur to claim the title. 

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong are the six teams that will compete for the Asia Cup 2022 title. Hong Kong secured their place in the main tournament after winning the four-team Asia Cup Qualifiers, also featuring Singapore, UAE and Kuwait. 

While Group A comprises arch-rivals India, Pakistan and qualifier Hong Kong, Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka will lock horns with Afghanistan in the opening match of Asia Cup 2022 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, August 27. 

Meanwhile, India will square off against rivals Pakistan in their first match of the tournament at the same venue on Sunday. 

Interestingly, India and Pakistan could clash as many as three times in the upcoming Asia Cup. 

India has a dominant head-to-head record against Pakistan in Asia Cup history, winning eight of the 14 matches that they have contested so far. Pakistan have secured just five victories. 

MS Dhoni-led India secured a five-wicket win over Pakistan in their only T20I meeting of the Asia Cup at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh in 2016. 

In the second Group A encounter, India will play Hong Kong for the first time in its history in T20I cricket. India and Hong Kong have faced each other twice in ODI cricket with the former winning on both occasions. 

In Group B, the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh encounter will be the one to watch out for. Five-time Asia Cup winners Sri Lanka have a superior head-to-head record against Bangladesh, winning 11 of the 14 matches that they have clashed so far. However, Bangladesh have won their last two matches against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. 

Led by captain Rohit Sharma, defending champions India will head into the Asia Cup as a pre-tournament favourites. 

The Men in Blue have been in impressive form in the T20I format, winning series in the West Indies, England, Ireland while they drew a home series against South Africa. 

Furthermore, India have previously won the Asia Cup in 1984, 1988, 1990-91, 1995, 2010, 2016 and 2018. They have a dominant record in the Asia Cup, winning 36 of the 54 matches that they have played in the continental event. India have suffered just 16 losses and have a win percentage of 68.86. 

However, India will miss the services of their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out due to injury. 

Going by recent form and past record in Asia Cup, Rohit Sharma and his men will be strong favourites to bag a record eighth title. 

The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening, August 28th. We can’t wait for another nail-biting encounter in Dubai. The match will start at 7:30 PM (IST). So, keep your snacks ready!