Asia Cup 2016 Pakistan team arrives in Banglad

DHAKA: After having completed a successful season of the first Pakistan Super League in the United Arab Emirates, title aspirant Pakistan, one of the top sides of the continent, arrived in Dhaka to attend the 13th edition of the Asia Cup, Bengali media reported on Wednesday.The green shirt team landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a flight of Emirates at 7-30pm local time, reports said.After the Arrival in Dhaka, they will hold their first practice session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ground in Mirpur on Thursday).They will face India at the Shere’Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday (February 27).Pakistan are the two-time Asian champions and interestingly on both occasions, they clinched the title in Bangladesh. First time in 2000 and then in 2012.However, Pakistan’s mission to success will be anything but an easy’go as they are set to receive stint challenge from Bangladesh whom they beat by 2 runs in the 2012 Asia Cup final.Besides, red’hot favourites India and defending champions Sri Lanka too can prove to be threats for them.Pakistan squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Sami, Iftikhar Ahmed.This year’s Asia Cup will be the’13th edition of the series that takes place once in two years, and will feature India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in addition to one qualifying country United Arab Emirates.The Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format for the first time in the history of the tournament.Bangladesh will host the 2016 Asia Cup, with all matches set to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. The tournament opens with Bangladesh taking on India. The final of the Asia Cup will be played on March 6. (Online)’