"Best Of Three-Match Series": Mohammad Rizwan On Facing India In Asia Cup

Excited to face arch-rivals India for the second time in the Asia Cup on Sunday, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan said his team-mates had joked each other that it's a "best of three-match series" between the two sides in the ongoing continental tournament. India and Pakistan can still face in the summit clash here on September 11 whatever the outcome of the match on Sunday and that will make the arch-rivals face each other three times -- all of them on Sundays. India had beaten Pakistan by five wickets last Sunday.

"Fans from both countries anticipate a third meeting in next week's final. We have jokingly said among ourselves that it's a best of three-match series (between India and Pakistan)," Rizwan said in Sharjah after Pakistan's mammoth 155-run win over Hong Kong.

Political tensions meant that there has been no bilateral series between the two countries for nearly a decade now and the Asia Cup has somewhat quenched the hunger of the fans.

Rizwan starred with an unbeaten 78 as Pakistan posted 193/2 before bowling out Hong Kong for a record low of 38 to confirm their passage to 'Super 4'.

Pakistan will begin their 'Super 4' campaign against India here on Sunday, in a repeat of their Asia Cup opener at the same venue exactly a week ago.

Competing alongside Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the round-robin Super 4, India and Pakistan are fancied to finish top-two to set up a yet another Sunday showdown in the Asia Cup final here on September 11.

"Playing India is always a pressure game. Even people outside Asia wait for it. Obviously it's always like a 'final' as there's so much passion involved in this game.

"We have to play good cricket and make the final. Obviously, we have to strengthen our cricket and put in