The third game of the 2023 Asia Cup in the One Day International (ODI) series is set to take place on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023. The competing teams will be Pakistan and India, and the venue for this exciting match will be the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, located in Pallekele.

The clash between Pakistan and India stands as the most widely viewed cricket encounter across the globe. A cricket match pitting India against Pakistan is nothing short of a grand spectacle. The bilateral series between these two cricketing giants has been suspended due to political intricacies involving the governments of both nations. As a result, their meetings are now confined to International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments exclusively.

The upcoming match holds immense significance for both teams, particularly considering their prior face-offs in the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup. Notably, India and Pakistan find themselves placed within the same group as per the World Cup itinerary. Anticipation runs high that both India and Pakistan will advance to the Super Four stage, given the perceived challenge level of their group-mate, Nepal, against either of these formidable opponents.

Pakistan has recently surged to the top position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team rankings. This ascent was achieved through a triumphant series against Afghanistan, where their impeccable pace bowling unit, stellar batting displays, and exceptional all-round performances proved pivotal. While Pakistan boasts a commendable track record in ODIs against India, they have historically faltered in high-stakes clashes like the World Cup and Asia Cup. However, a significant turning point occurred in the Champions Trophy 2017, when Pakistan scripted history by securing a commanding victory over India. Subsequently, this momentum carried into crucial matches against India in the 2021 World Cup and Asia Cup, underlining the confidence-boosting nature of such triumphs.

The upper and middle batting order of Pakistan brims with seasoned players, complemented by potent hitters in the lower lineup. Leading the charge are key batsmen like Imam ul Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman. Imam ul Haq’s recent solid performance against Afghanistan highlights his prowess. With an impressive track record of 9 centuries and 18 fifties in 62 previous matches, he maintains an average of 51.50. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been in exceptional form. Babar Azam’s recent score of 151 runs against Nepal in this tournament attests to his remarkable form. Equally, Mohammad Rizwan’s quickfire 44 runs off 50 balls against Nepal underscores his contribution. Another standout batsman is Iftikhar Ahmed, who notched his maiden ODI century against Nepal, achieving this feat in just 71 balls, embellished with 11 boundaries and four towering sixes.

The true backbone of Pakistan’s strength resides in its bowling arsenal. Spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, and backed by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, this trio of seam bowlers possesses the capability to dismantle even the most robust batting lineups globally, including India’s. Bolstering the attack are spin maestros Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, who are pivotal components of Pakistan’s bowling unit.

India encountered a substantial setback just before the commencement of this pivotal match. The absence of KL Rahul, who serves as both the opening batsman and wicket-keeper for Team India, presented a significant challenge to the team’s management. Consequently, adjustments need to be made in the batting order of their key players. It is anticipated that Ishan Kishan will step in as KL Rahul’s replacement, taking up the role of opening alongside Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill is slated to bat at the number three spot, followed by Virat Kohli at number four. The resilience of Team India’s batting lineup is widely acknowledged, stretching its potency even to the seventh position.

While the spotlight naturally falls on run-scoring stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the remarkable form displayed by Shubman Gill in recent matches cannot be overlooked. His confrontation with Pakistan’s pace bowlers, such as Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, is poised to be a captivating aspect of the game. The upper batting order of Team India possesses considerable strength, complemented by a robust middle order. Lower down the lineup, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel are set to contribute. Nevertheless, India faces the challenge of their bowlers lacking batting prowess, and conversely, their regular bowlers struggling to wield the willow effectively.

India’s batting firepower extends up to the seventh spot, yet beyond this juncture, it appears unlikely that any other player could effectively occupy the crease. The Indian bowling arsenal boasts the prowess of three premier pacers: Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah. It is envisioned that India will opt for a combination of two seam bowlers while incorporating Kuldeep Yadav, a wrist-spin specialist, into the playing eleven.

In the realm of ODI cricket, India stands as a formidable and seasoned team, leaving little doubt that they hold an overall advantage over Pakistan, at least on paper. According to predictions for the Asia Cup, India emerges as the favored contender to clinch victory in this forthcoming match. Numerous factors contribute to India’s status as the favored team for the 3rd match, with several key aspects highlighted below:

1. Comprehensive Strength and Experience:
   India boasts a collective strength and experience that surpasses Pakistan’s, bolstering its overall prowess.
2. Recent Dominance:
   India has asserted their dominance in recent times, having secured victory in four out of the last five ODI matches against Pakistan.
3. Robust Bowling:
   While Pakistan holds a more potent bowling unit, it’s important to acknowledge that India’s prowess in this aspect shouldn’t be underestimated.
4. Potent Batting Order:
   India’s batting lineup exhibits significant depth and strength, positioning them advantageously in comparison to Pakistan.
5. Stellar Performances:
   Notably, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are currently enjoying exceptional form, adding a layer of potency to Pakistan’s performance.

Overall, while India maintains a commanding position on various fronts, it’s important to recognize that the game of cricket often brings unexpected twists and turns, and on any given day, performance on the field can defy expectations.

In the realm of ODI cricket, India blends a blend of seasoned and youthful talents within its ranks. Bolstered by a formidable batting lineup, featuring renowned power-hitters in the ODI format, the team’s winning prospects for today’s match have been notably heightened. The forecast for today’s cricket match outcome and the result of the 3rd Match are outlined below:

India holds a 54% probability of securing victory in the 3rd Match.
Pakistan maintains a 46% likelihood of emerging triumphant in the 3rd Match.

The outcome of the coin toss is poised to wield substantial influence over the course of all matches within the Asia Cup 2023. Accumulating a competitive score on the scoreboard holds significant sway in these high-stakes encounters. As per the forecast for the coin toss, the team that gains the toss victory is likely to opt for batting first, recognizing the advantages it could offer.

Scheduled to take place at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, the 3rd match of Asia Cup ODI 2023 is set to unfold. The cricket pitch at this venue presents a predominantly even batting platform coupled with significant pace and bounce. It’s noteworthy that the track exhibits a reduced pace compared to its counterparts, thereby offering substantial assistance to spin bowlers. Anticipations are directed toward the surface’s gradual slowing down, potentially rendering batting more challenging during this 3rd Match. Achieving a score ranging from 270 to 280 could prove to be quite a formidable pursuit for any chasing team.

In Pallekele, the weather outlook is slated to be hot, posing a physical challenge for the players. Although there are indications of clouds on the day of the match, the weather forecast does not include any predictions of rain. As a result, it appears likely that the 3rd Match will proceed without any interruptions, allowing for an uninterrupted encounter.

In the realm of One Day International (ODI) cricket, Pakistan and India have crossed paths on 132 occasions. Out of these encounters, Pakistan emerged victorious in 73 matches, while India claimed triumph in 55 matches. Notably, four matches in the PAK vs IND rivalry concluded without a decisive result.

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.

• Date: Saturday, 2nd September 2023
• Time: 09:30 AM GMT / 02:30 PM LOCAL / 03:00 PM IST

• Stadium: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
• Location: Pallekele, India
• Capacity: 35000
• Dimensions: 80m long, 75m wide
• End: Hunnasgiriya End, Rikillagaskada End
• Time Zone: UTC +05:30
• Home to: Kandurata
• Floodlights: Yes
• Curator: Asitha Wijesinghe

• Total matches: 36
• Matches won batting first: 15
• Matches won bowling first: 20
• Average 1st Inns scores: 250
• Average 3rd Inns scores: 202
• Highest total recorded: 363/7 (50 Ov) by RSA vs SL
• Lowest total recorded: 70/10 (24.4 Ov) by ZIM vs SL
• Highest score chased: 314/6 (49.4 Ov) by SL vs AFG
• Lowest score defended: 206/9 (36 Ov) by WI vs SL

Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abdullah Shafique, Usama Mir, Saud Shakeel, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.