Highlights, India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2018: All-round India thrash listless Pakistan by 8 wickets

ASIA CUP 2018, MATCH 5: INDIA BEAT PAKISTAN BY 8 WICKETS

India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2018: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the fifth ODI match between India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai. A clinical show with the ball from the Indians, that too after being asked to bowl. Barring that 82-run stand between Azam and Malik, nobody put up any kind of a fight, not worth anything of note at least. The two openers were sent back early by Kumar, but then the Azam-Malik stand provided good resistance and shored things up too. Though, the moment Kuldeep got rid of Babar, things went downhill from there for the Men in Green. Wickets kept falling and eventually, they were rolled up for a low score. Credit to the Indian bowlers, they were exceptional right from the start. It was a collective effort. Kumar started things off, then Kuldeep followed by breaking that all-important partnership, Jadhav then played his part in the middle overs and then Bumrah contributed towards the end. There were a few dropped chances and some sloppy fielding efforts, but fortunately for them, none of them cost them big. The ball is in India's court now. 163, on this surface, is a gettable one, and they should too with the kind of batting line-up they have. But, given Pakistan's attack and the pressure of the occasion, a couple of early wickets and anything can happen. Much like Pakistan's, India's middle order has shown to be frail in the past. (IND VS PAK SCORECARD) (TWITTER REACTIONS) 

India vs Pakistan: IND vs PAK Updates From Dubai

23.22 IST: Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed says that their start was poor and after a partnership between Azam and Malik they again lost wickets in clumps. Admits that it was a bad outing for them with the bat with a plenty of soft dismissals, barring Babar Azam. Smiles and says that they prepared for the Indian spinners but ended up giving their wickets away to the other bowlers. Considers it as a wake-up call for his team and expects to bounce back in the next match.

23.15 IST: Defending a below-par total, Pakistan needed their star fast bowlers to pick some quick wickets with the new ball but that didn't happen. After that their bowling looked quite ordinary and the injury to Shadab Khan didn't help their cause much. Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik spent quality time in the middle to hand India a comprehensive win.

23.12 IST: A walk in the park for India! So much build-up was given to this game but it failed to live up to the expectations. It was a flop show from the Pakistan batting as they managed a paltry total on the board. The Indian openers provided a flying start and that in itself nearly sealed the deal. Rohit Sharma, in particular, looked in scintillating form and notched up a fifty. Shikhar Dhawan also stroked a valiant 46 to back up his century yesterday, thereby showing that he has truly returned to form after a dismal English tour.

23.10 IST: India (164/2) beat Pakistan (162) by 8 wickets in Dubai. Rohit 52, Dhawan 46

23.03 IST: FOUR! Connects and connects well. Flighted on middle and leg, Karthik goes down on one knee and sweeps it with the turn to the fine leg fence. Malik showing special affinity to the leg stump line here. India a boundary away now. IND 159/2 in 28.4 overs

23.00 IST: FOUR! Smashed by Rayudu. Can smell victory from here, 10 runs needed. Swift footwork shown by Rayudu. He speeds down to the pitch of the delivery and lifts it easily over mid off for a boundary. 10 needed more. IND 153/2 in 27.3 overs

22.57 IST: FOUR! DK hits the sweep shot. Good timing. Malik fires a full ball down the leg side again, Karthik kneels and nails his sweep shot wide of short fine leg for a boundary. It has come after a gap of 32 balls, the longest period. IND 148/2 in 43.3 overs

22.55 IST: Shoaib Malik is into the attack now.

22.49 IST: A length ball angling away from the batsman, Rayudu plays it down with soft hands to covers and scampers across for a single. The fielder scores a direct hit at the striker's end but Rayudu was safely in by then.

22.42 IST: Bowls a length ball in line of the stumps, Rayudu moves back to make some space and then taps it down towards covers. He sprints down the track in search of a run but Karthik sends him back. Ambati returns as the fielder misses his shy at the keeper's end. No one backing up the throw and now they cross for an overthrow.

22.39 IST:  Slower through the air, full and landing on middle, Rayudu pushes it off his front foot to mid off. 'Ye achcha hai', says Sarfraz from behind the stumps. It's rare to hear him praising his bowlers.

22.35 IST: FOUR! Classy shot by Rayudu.Well played! An innocuous delivery, short and outside off, Rayudu shuffles a bit and steers it past the left side of the backward point fielder. It speeds away and third man has no chance of stopping it. IND 128/2 in 20.5 overs

22.34 IST: A length ball angling down the leg side, Rayudu moves across the stumps a bit and helps it in the gap at mid-wicket for a single. Doing it with ease, India.

22.31 IST: Now Rayudu tries to tap a length ball on the off side and run but Karthik sends him back. 45 more needed and it seems only a formality is left in this match now.

22.22 IST: SIX! And that comes of DK's bat. That has gone all the way! Zaman drops it short and on middle, Karthik goes deep inside the crease and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie. A bit strange from Sarfraz to continue with a part-timer when we all can sense that this game won't last more than 35 overs. Maybe, he is now looking to rest his main bowlers. Unexpected! IND 114/2 in 17.2 overs

22.19 IST: OUT! Azam removes Dhawan. He was four runs shy of his fifty. A soft dismissal, have to say. Ashraf is very lucky to get a wicket by bowling a boundary ball. Short and wide outside off, slower in pace, Dhawan rocks back to slap it square of the wicket on the off side but fails to keep it down. Babar Azam at backward point makes no mistake. A smiling Dhawan returns. Although India are in a cruise control. IND 102/2 in 16.3 overs

What happened there? Shadab Khan is feeling some discomfort after delivering the last ball. Maybe, issues with his hip muscles. Sarfraz has a chat with him and the leggie is now seen going off the field. Not a good sight for Pakistan. Earlier in the day, Hardik Pandya left the field on a stretcher. Wishing a speedy recovery to both the players. Fakhar Zaman, in the meanwhile, will complete the over.

22.07 IST: FOUR! Wrong line to start this spell by Ashraf. He bowls a full ball on the leg stump line. Dhawan picks it off his pads and neatly deflects it down to fine leg for a boundary.

22.01 IST: OUT! Shadab gets Rohit on the first ball. Through the gate! Shadab comes into the attack and produces the desired result for Pakistan immediately. A leg spinner landing on the leg stump. Rohit is forward to play at it, probably with the spin, but it goes straight on, beats his bat, brushes his back pad a bit and then lights the stumps. The Green team is delighted but a wicket too late one would say. 77 needed more off 221 balls. IND 86/1 in 13.1 overs

21.59 IST: FOUR! FIFTY up for Rohit! Classy innings, that though against Pakistan. What a fine way to get to your half century. A half century outside off, Rohit leans and chips it over cover for a boundary. His 35th ODI Fifty. IND 85/0 in 12.4 overs

21.56 IST: SIX! He has blasted that!  I am reminded of my student days when my teacher used to tell me, 'Son, if you don't learn, you will get punished.' Seems like India are telling that to Pakistan at the moment. IND 79/0 in 12.1 overs

21.54 IST: FOUR! Timed the shot perfectly. What a shot. Full on middle, Dhawan whips it over mid-wicket and gets a boundary. IND 73/0 in 11.5 overs

21.47 IST: SIX! Bang! Up, up and away! A short ball, Pakistan seem to be defiant to learn. Keep on peppering the Indian batsmen and keep pulled over the ropes. This one's gone over deep square leg. There is a man in the deep but he has no chance. Just 98 needed now.  IND 65/0 in 10.2 overs

21.43 IST: FOUR! Smashed by Dhawan. If Babar's dive was brilliant, Dhawan's drive is ultra-brilliant. A length ball outside off, Dhawan creams this through point and this time no one is stopping that. IND 57/0 in 9.4 overs

21.41 IST: Excellent fielding! Babar Azam the hero. Full and outside off, Dhawan drives it through the covers and seems to thread the gap but Babar dives to his right and stops the ball. Brilliant.

* Double change. Faheem Ashraf to bowl from the other end.

21.38 IST: FOUR! The length is short, the line is outside leg, the body reaction is the swivel, the stance is head high, the ball direction behind square leg and the final destination - boundary. IND 51/0 in 8.4 overs

21.34 IST: FREE HIT! SIX! BOOM! That is massive. Rohit smashes that a long, long way. Forget where the fine leg is, Usman is not correcting his length at all. Short, six. Short, four. Short, now six. Rohit swivels and pulls it massively over mid-wicket. That nearly hit the roof. IND 46/0 in 7.5 overs

21.33 IST: FOUR! NO BALL, First, a mistake. Then a crime. Again, with fine leg up, Usman drops it short. Once more, he is pulled away, this time with authority, behind square leg. Then, the umpire raises his right hand sideways to indicate more misery to Usman, Sarfraz and Pakistan.  IND 39/0 in 7.5 overs. 

21.31 IST: SIX! Fine leg was inside the circle and Usman, for some reason, dug it in short. Rohit did not need a second invitation. He instinctively went for the hook but the quickness on the ball did him in. However, the pace also helped him as the ball travelled over the fine leg fence in a flash. 128 more to win. IND 35/0 in 7.4 overs

21.29 IST: This is outside off, steered towards third man for a run. 'I think it is time Sarfraz starts to look at other options', quips Aamer Sohail on air.

21.26 IST: FOUR! Another one by the skipper. TImes the shot perfectly. After the power, comes the placement. Amir overcompensates for the short ball bowled previously and delivers an overpitched one. Rohit leans and exhibits a delightful cover drive. Treat to watch. 137 more to win. IND 26/0 in 6.4 overs

21.25 IST: FOUR! Cracking shot by Rohit! Fractionally short outside off, Rohit lashes out the cut and gets it behind point. Third man starts to run, continues to run but eventually cannot even get close to the ball. IND 22/0 in 6.4 overs

21.23 IST: Risky run. Dhawan works it towards mid on and calls for a quick single. The fielder comes charging in but then slips while diving and his throw bounces awkwardly past the stumps at the non-striker's end. Now had he not slipped, Dhawan could have been in trouble.

21.20 IST: A bit of a delay. Shikhar Dhawan is not happy with the disturbance behind the sightscreen. The members are taking their own sweet time to get their dinner or snacks to their seat and are not even sitting down. Busy chatting with the others around, till they are politely informed that the game has been stalled. All ready now.

21.18 IST: A bit edgy. A length ball, Rohit looks to force it through the off side but ends up slicing it uppishly, behind point towards third man. A single taken. IND 16/0 in 5.4 overs

21.16 IST: Maiden over by Amir. Kept Dhawan busy. IND 15/0 in 5 overs

21.10 IST: Ooohhh... bizarre. Normally one gets an edge when the ball does something. Nothing much of that here. The ball comes in and somehow Dhawan misses his flick. A leading edge is induced which does not carry to cover.

21.06 IST: 3 Runs! Poor fielding, excellent running. Dhawan works this wide of mid on and Shoaib Malik, one of Pakistan's best fielders, gives it a chase. However, he prefers not to put in a dive and allows the ball to go through. He chases it all the way to the boundary and the batsmen take that opportunity to come back for the third. 149 more needed.

21.04 IST: FOUR! Shot! Classy drive by Dhawan on Amir's delivery. No swing and the fuller length comes as a sweet dish for Indian batsmen. After the rough tour of England, this will come as a nice feeling. Full and outside off, Dhawan leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary. IND 11/0 in 2.3 overs

21.00 IST: FOUR! Usman has his hands on his head. Nearly got the Indian captain there. The ball is on a length, outside off, Rohit looks to push it through the off side but the ball moves while his feet don't. Inside edge, past the stumps, to the fine leg fence. 156 more needed from 292 balls. IND 7/0 in 1.2 overs

20.59 IST: Amir drags his length back a touch as Sharma taps it towards cover-point. Wants a run but he has been rightly sent back by his partner.

20.55 IST: India and Rohit are underway! On a length on middle and leg, Sharma tucks it towards mid-wicket and takes off. Has to change his direction as he might have collided into Amir on his followthrough. Completes the run safely in the end.

20.52 IST: And we're back with the chase. 163 up on the board. Rohit and Dhawan are out and Mohammed Amir wi given the new ball. Let's get started. 

20.15 IST: The ball is in India's court now. 163, on this surface, is a gettable one, and they should too with the kind of batting line-up they have. But, given Pakistan's attack and the pressure of the occasion, a couple of early wickets and anything can happen. Much like Pakistan's, India's middle order has shown to be frail in the past. Join us for the second half in a short while.

20.09 IST: Pakistan all out for 162 runs in 43.1 overs against India in Dubai. Jadhav 3/23, Bhuvneshwar 3/15, Azam 47. Usman Khan OUT! Bowled 'em! And that's the end of that. PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN WRAPPED UP FOR 162! Bumrah, typically, spears in an accurate yorker and aims it at the base of off stump. Too good for Usman Khan who can't do anything about it. It goes under his bat and the off stick is shaken. Jasprit celebrates like Shahid Afridi with his hands aloft. Superb stuff.

20.04 IST: Usman Khan is the last man in for Pakistan.

20.03 IST: OUT! Bhuvneshwar removes Hasan Ali for 1. A simple catch and Hasan Ali walks back to the dressing room. Bhuvneshwar bowls a length ball on the stumps, Ali stands tall and tries to clear mid on. Doesn't exactly get on top of the bounce and so, lobs it towards Dinesh Karthik who takes a few steps behind to gobble it up. Pakistan 160/9 in 42.1 overs vs India in Dubai.

19.58 IST: Hasan Ali to bat next.

19.57 IST: OUT! Bumrah removes Faheem Ashraf for 21. Ashraf holes out, but not before contributing to a handy partnership of 37 for Pakistan. Bumrah strikes first ball on his return to the attack. Comes from around the wicket and bowls a slower one, full in length. Ashraf swings across the line but fails to pick it up. As a result, he skies it over mid-wicket and Dhawan out in the deep takes a safe catch.  Pakistan 158/8 in 41.1 overs vs India in Dubai.

19.56 IST: Jasprit Bumrah returns to the bowling attack.

19.52 IST: Powerplay 3 signalled. A maximum of 5 fielders will be allowed outside the ring till the end of the innings. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is brought back on. Can he break this useful stand?

19.44 IST: FOUR! He finds the gap there. Takes a bit of risk but it pays off. This is a good shot from Faheem Ashraf. Sees the ball landing full around off, Ashraf opens his body up and lofts it cleanly over the covers for a boundary.  PAK 148/7 in 37.4 overs.

19.43 IST: Amir Dropped! He should have taken that. Relatively easy chance for the leggie. Tossed up on the stumps, Ashraf drives it on the up right back towards the bowler. Chahal moves to his right and gets his hands to it, but can't hold on.

19.37 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Faheem Ashraf, 2 runs. No ball! Rare to see it from a spinner. Chahal oversteps as he bowls a full ball outside off, driven to long off for one more. Free Hit coming up...

19.35 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal is called back to bowl.

19.32 IST: Mohammad Amir Edged and FOUR! A slip was there in the place but just too wide. Full and outside off, Amir plays the expansive drive and gets a thick edge. Flies between Dhoni and Dhawan and wide first slip. Shikhar dives to his right but can't get to it. A boundary results.

19.30 IST: FOUR! Full in length and outside off, some room to work with and Ashraf pounces on it. Drives it nicely through the covers and finds the fence.

19.28 IST: Drinks break. During the previous drinks break, Pakistan were in control. At this time, they've totally lose it. India have made a serious comeback with some smart and disciplined bowling from the spinners. From 85/2, they went to 121/7. All this after some dropped chances too. India on top here. Also, Mohammad Amir is the new man in.

19.27 IST: OUT! Kedar Jadhav removes Shadab Khan for 8. Not really a surprise why Shadab decided to walk. If Dhoni's sure, then you're more or less gone. Khan decides to give the charge and seeing this, Jadhav shortens the length and fires it outside off. It goes past the outside edge and Dhoni, lightning as always, whips the bails off in a flash. It's taken upstairs and replays show that Shadab couldn't drag his back leg inside in time. That's the end of that.  Pakistan 121/7 in 33 overs vs India in Dubai.

19.26 IST: A stumping referral against Shadab Khan is being checked upstairs by the umpire. The batsman is already walking. Probably says a lot in itself.

19.22 IST: Faheem Ashraf NOT OUT! Height is an issue and it saves Ashraf. Around the wicket to Faheem, back of a length coming in on middle and leg, the batsman fails to flick and wears it on the thigh pad. A loud appeal goes up but it's denied. Rohit Sharma thinks on what to do, asks Dhoni who says he's unsure, but he anyway goes ahead with it and reviews it. Replays show it's too high and missing the stumps. India lose their review.

19.20 IST: Review taken. It's for an lbw decision against Faheem Ashraf. Height maybe an issue. 

19.15 IST: Jasprit Bumrah is back on.

19.08 IST: Faheem Ashraf walks into the middle next.

19.07 IST: OUT! Kedar Jadhav removes Asif Ali for 9. Got 'em! Asif Ali's brief stay has come to an end. He's a dangerous player, India have taken a crucial wicket as he can go big towards the end after settling in. Jadhav darts it short and flat outside off, Ali looks to fiercely cut it away on the off side but can only manage a feather to Dhoni, who takes a sharp catch.  Pakistan 110/6 in 28.1 overs vs India in Dubai.

19.04 IST: SIX! He can do that. He's known to do that and he's doing it now here too. Flighted delivery outside off, Asif Ali kneels down and throws the kitchen sink at it. Powers it over long on and sends it deep into the stands for a maximum.  PAK 109/5 in 27.5 overs.

19.03 IST: Shadab Khan is the new man in.

19.02 IST: OUT! Shoaib Malik run out for 43. Another one bites the dust! Pakistan have lost their way big time. Malik was batting pretty well and he will be disappointed with himself. Ali taps this one towards cover-point and is watching the ball. Malik however charges in from the other end. Realizing that, Ali tells his partner to go back. Malik, in order to avoid the throw, runs across the wickets. Rayudu attacks the ball, picks it up and hits the bull's eye at the bowler's end as Shoaib tries to drag his bat back in. It is referred upstairs. Time for replays. Well, Malik is well short of where he needed to be. He was lazy to return back which cost him. If he had ran in straighter lines, he might have been able to make his ground. The Men in Green have lost half their side now. Pakistan 100/5 in 27 overs vs India in Dubai.

19.00 IST: Direct hit from Ambati Rayudu! Seems Shoaib Malik is in trouble. Going to be real close. Over to the TV umpire now.

18.53 IST: Asif Ali strides out to bat. Meanwhile, umpire Marais Erasmus is waiting to check whether the batsmen crossed. They didn't cross eventually and Ali will be on strike.

18.52 IST: OUT! Kedar Jadhav removes Sarfraz for 6. Take a bow, Manish Pandey! That is a gem of a catch. Malik's opportunity was missed in the previous over but this time the substitute, Pandey, has come to the fore. Tossed up fullish ball on middle and leg, Ahmed clears his front leg and slogs it towards wide long on. Manish covers a lot of ground to his right, keeps his balance intact and takes it brilliantly with both his hands. He realizes that the momentum is taking him over the ropes and hence, lobs the ball back into play. He crosses the boundary and then comes in to collect it. His teammates barge towards him. This is a good phase of play for India and they will like to may hay while the sun shines.  Pakistan 96/4 in 24.5 overs vs India in Dubai.

18.48 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to Shoaib Malik, 1 run. Oh, dear! Bhuvneshwar Kumar has completely missed that. Shoaib Malik is offered another life. He gives the charge to this floated ball and slogs over mid-wicket. Plenty of height, not enough distance and Bhuvneshwar is out in the deep. The setting sun's in his eye and as a result, he loses it and runs too far inside. Sunglasses are there for a reason, should have opted for them when they are so freely available. One taken.

18.43 IST: Kedar Jadhav to have a bowl now.

18.40 IST: The Pakistan skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, is the new man in.

18.39 IST: OUT! Kuldeep Yadav removes Babar Azam  for 47. Bowled 'em! He has completely bamboozled Azam this time and boy, he is absolutely pumped up. He slips in the googly around middle and leg and it dips on Babar as well. He is down the track but has no clue about it. Pushes at it but misses it completely to get the bails of his stumps dislodged. He looks back and thinks that Dhoni has lost the ball and he has a chance to come back in. However, he realizes that the ball had hit the timber. End of the flourishing 82-run stand and also the good knock from Azam. Can India trigger a collapse now?  Pakistan 85/3 in 21.2 overs vs India in Dubai.

18.34 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to Babar Azam, 1 run. Fired in on the leg stump line, tucked around the corner for a single.

18.30 IST: Kuldeep Yadav comes back into the attack.

18.26 IST: Well, not good news for India. He is lying on the stretcher and is being carried off the field. Doesn't look good at all at the moment. While landing on his followthrough, his right foot lost balance. Seems like he has hurt his hip region. Ravi Shastri looks concerned in the dressing room. A big blow for the Men in Blue. Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu will bowl the final ball of the over in Pandya's place.

18.23 IST: What happened there? Hardik Pandya has fallen on the ground after delivering the ball. Seems to be in a lot of pain. The replays show that he lost his footing a bit on his followthrough. India will hope that it is nothing serious.

18.21 IST: FOUR! Good shot! Fractionally overpitched outside off, Azam leans into it and caresses it through covers. Rayudu has a lot of ground to cover. He runs to his right, slides full length and almost pulls it back in but his legs come in the way. Deflects to the ropes off the boots. Unlucky there.

18.20 IST: Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly believes that the current Pakistan team lacks the balance of the past teams .

18.13 IST: Time for Drinks! It has been a really good recovery from Pakistan, courtesy the unbeaten 50-run stand between Malik and Azam. The Men in Green had lost a couple of early wickets but these two have shown a lot of composure. The drop catch of Malik just before the break didn't help India's cause. They need to take their chances.

18.11 IST: Shoaib Malik dropped by MS DHONI! Dhoni won't be happy with that! Good length ball outside off, straightens a touch after landing. Malik attempts to guide it down to third man but ends up playing it too fine and towards MS. He gets low to his right and the ball hits his right glove. On impact with the ground, the ball lobs up, hits his other glove and then dies down on the ground. Malik gets a life. Will he capitalize on it?

18.05 IST: Chahal is back on.

18.04 IST: FOUR! Deft and effective! Short of a length and there is room on offer, Azam shows finesse as he waits for the ball to arrive and glides it past the keeper through to the third man fence. That brings up the 50-run stand between the duo. A good recovery after Pakistan lost two early wickets. PAK 55/2 in 14 overs.

18.00 IST: SIX! Clean as a whistle! That was hit with so much authority. Tossed up ball on off, Malik skips down the track in a jiffy and with a high backlift tonks it over cow corner. Has send the ball a long, long way into the stands. Brilliant.

17.58 IST: Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on air informs that Chahal is off the field. Not sure about the reason though.

17.57 IST: Kuldeep Yadav to have a bowl now. He has a truck load of tricks up his sleeve. Let's see how the Pakistan batsmen tackle him.

17.55 IST: FOUR! All about timing and grace! Overpitched on middle, Azam stays well-balanced and clips it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. PAK 39/2 in 12 overs.

17.51 IST: FOUR! He finds the gap. Poor delivery and gets the treatment! A half-tracker outside off, Azam makes good use of the depth of the crease and slaps it past the cover fielder. Beats the man in the deep as well to pick up another boundary. 7 from Chahal's first over.  PAK 32/2 in 11 overs.

17.48 IST: Time for Powerplay 2! Maximum of four fielders are now allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal to roll his arm over now.

17.44 IST: Hardik Pandya to bowl now.

17.36 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Another eye-catching stroke. On a length outside off, Azam stands tall and caresses it through covers to find the fence again.

17.34 IST: FOUR! That will do his confidence a world of good! A brilliant shot. In the corridor of uncertainty, Azam comes forward and just pushes at it. The ball hits the turf and races across to the long off fence.

17.30 IST: Eight runs from the over. Jasprit Bumrah to Shoaib Malik, no run. Similar length ball outside off, Shoaib shuffles a touch and pats it to cover-point. Better over for Pakistan, 8 from this one.  PAK 12/2 in 6 overs.

17.27 IST: FOUR! Sit back and applaud! Everything was perfect about that shot - head position, high elbow and extension of the arms. Pitched up ball outside off, Malik reaches the pitch of the ball and drives it elegantly through covers to find the fence. First boundary of the innings as well.

17.23 IST: Shoaib Malik strides out to bat.

17.22 IST: OUT! Bhuvneshwar removes Fakhar Zaman for 0. Another poor shot has costed Pakistan big time! Both the openers are back in the hut in no time. Even though you are in rich vein of form, you got to respect the conditions and take your time to settle in. One poor execution can send you packing. Coming back to the ball, it is on a shortish length on off. Zaman doesn't have much space to work with but still goes for a big pull across the line. Ends up getting a top edge that lobs over mid-wicket. Chahal backtracks and takes a fine catch.  Pakistan 3/2 in 4.1 overs vs India in Dubai.

17.13 IST: Babar Azam comes out to bat.

17.12 IST: OUT! Bhuvneshwar removes Imam-ul-Haq for 2. Kumar is up and running! He was off color in the previous game against Hong Kong but he has come out firing on all cylinders today. He spots Imam using his feet and hence, shortens his length. Hits the deck hard as the batsman swings wildly at it. Ends up getting a thick outside edge though and Dhoni behind the stumps does the rest. That was a poor shot, the youngster will be kicking himself. Fails in his first outing against India.  Pakistan 2/1 in 2.1 overs vs India in Dubai.

17.06 IST: Jasprit Bumrah to bowl with the second new ball from the other end.

17.05 IST: PAK 2/0 in 1 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Imam-ul-Haq, no run. Length ball that swings into the batsman who covers the line and tucks it towards mid-wicket. Decent start for Bhuvi and India, only 2 from the first over.

17.02 IST: Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will open the batting for Pakistan. They are in rich vein of form and will be eager to capitalize on it. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will steam in with the first new ball. A slip in place.

17.00 IST: The players come out to the middle for their respective national anthems. After the completion, we are all set to roll.

16.58 IST: India skipper, Rohit Sharma, says that they would have batted first as well but nevertheless they know what they are doing now. Adds that they will play their upcoming games at the same ground and it is nice that they will chase today. Credits Hong Kong for the way they played in the last game but is happy that they were successful in getting over the line. Feels that it will be a fantastic game against Pakistan and they are all geared up for it. Informs there are two changes - Jasprit Bumrah comes in for Shardul Thakur and Khaleel Ahmed makes way for Hardik Pandya.

16.55 IST: Pakistan skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, says that they will bat first today. Informs that they are going in with the same eleven that featured in their last game. Mentions that it is a good batting pitch and they want to put India under pressure. Ends by saying that they will target to put up a score above 280.

16.40 IST: PITCH REPORT - Sunil Gavaskar says that the same pitch which was used yesterday is being used today as well. Mentions that there are no bowler's footmarks on the surface and there is no damage inflicted on the surface. Adds that the ball is coming onto the bat but a little slowly. Feels that the bowlers won't enjoy bowling here while the batsmen will have a good time. Informs that Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal got some turn yesterday but it is a good batting pitch overall.

16.30 IST: TOSS - Sarfraz Ahmed calls heads and the coin lands in his favour. Pakistan opt to bat.

16.00 IST: Here are some impressive stats of Shoaib Malik against India.

15.50 IST: After a hard-fought game, Team India visited Hong Kong’s dressing room and met the promising cricketers, posed for pictures and shared their knowledge.

15.40 IST: Indian team players are off for the big-ticket match.

Brief Preview: Following a 26 run victory against Hong Kong, India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a much-anticipated clash of the 2018 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Even without regular skipper Virat Kohli, the Indian side, led by Rohit Sharma, is an intimidating one in the limited-overs format.

In the searing Dubai heat, where the mercury has risen up to 43 degree Celsius, the primary aim of the Men in Blue would be to get their combination right before the big game. (Read full preview)