India v Pakistan as it happened: India cruise to eight-wicket win

India prove too strong in one-sided Group A game. The sides will meet again on Sunday in the Super Four

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10pm: Games still to come

So, that is from Dubai for today. But there is still plenty of Asia Cup cricket to come.

Here is a list of the remaining games. All matches start at 3.30pm UAE time.

Group B

Thursday

Bangladesh v Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi

Super 4

Friday

India v Bangladesh, Dubai

Pakistan v Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi

Sunday

India v Pakistan, Dubai

Afghanistan v Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday

India v Afghanistan, Dubai

Wednesday

Pakistan v Bangladesh, Abu Dhabi

Final

Top two from Super Four, Dubai

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9.40pm: Game over - India win

Well, it was more one-sided then expected. India canter to an eight-wicket win in the Group A clash in Dubai.

Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik both finish unbeaten on 31 as they put on an unbroken stand of 60 for the third wicket to see India home in style.

Pakistan will get a chance at revenge on Sunday when they play again in the Super Four, again in Dubai.

Before then both sides are in action on Friday in their first Super Four games. India play Bangladesh in Dubai and Pakistan take on Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.

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8.49pm: WICKET!

Pakistan have their second and it's the other opener, Shikhar Dhawan (46) who is caught at backward point by  Babar Azam off the bowling of  Faheem Ashraf. India 104/2 after 16.3 overs.

8.30pm: WICKET!

Pakistan have their first wicket of the innings and it's that of Rohit Sharma, the India captain going first ball to Shadab Khan but not before making his half century. India still very much in control at 86/1 after 13.1 overs.

8.12pm: Fifty up for India

It is going to take an almighty collapse at this point for India not to seal victory against their rivals. Shikhar Dhawan (18) and captain Rohit Sharma (38) have crossed the 50-run partnership mark for the tournament hosts. India 57/0 after 9.4 overs

6.40pm: ALL OUT! India need 163 to win

Bumrah wraps up the Pakistan innings by removing Usman Khan's stumps. It's certainly advantage India in Dubai at present. Can Pakistan produce a fightback with the ball?

6.33pm: WICKET!

Hasan Ali (1) lasts three balls before making his way back into the hut, lofting a drive down the ground he didn't quite catch and it's a simple catch for Dinesh Karthik. That's Kumar's third wicket. Pakistan 160/9 off 42.1 overs.

6.30pm: WICKET!

A decent lower-order partnership worth 37 runs comes to an end after Faheem Ashraf (21) holes out to deep midwicket off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah. Pakistan 158/8 off 41.1 overs.

5.55pm: WICKET!

Jadhav with his third wicket and it's Shadab Khan (8) who plays and misses, only for Dhoni to producing the stumping. Umpire has asked for the third umpire but Shadab isn't wasting any time and marches off the pitch. Pakistan 121/7 off 33 overs.

5.37pm: WICKET!

Another one gone as Asif Ali edges to Dhoni will attempting a cut shot off Jadhav. Pakistan 110/6 after 28.1 overs.

5.30pm: WICKET!

It's been a terrible spell for Pakistan, who now lose the one player who looked capable of anchoring their innings. Shoaib Malik (43) makes his way back to the pavilion after a run-out by Ambati Rayudu. Pakistan 100/5 after 27 overs.

5.20pm: WICKET!

Pakistan's fightback has started to falter, with captain Sarfraz Ahmed the next to go. Sub fielder Pandey takes a superb catch at wide long-on off the bowling of Kedar Jadhav. Pakistan 96/4.

5.10pm: WICKET!

Pakistan's first important partnership comes to an end as Babar Azam (47) is bowled by Kuldeep Yadav. His 82-run partnership with Shoaib Malik was crucial in helping Pakistan recover from 3/2. Pakistan now 86/3.

4.20pm: Calm after the early storm for Pakistan

The good news for Pakistan is they have steadied the ship after that dramatic start that saw them lose two early wickets.

Babar Azam (13 not out) and Shoaib Malik (10 not out) have stabilised the innings and Pakistan have made it to the 10th over with no more wickets being lost.

At 25/2 there is still a lot of work ahead though to post anything remotely competitive and it has definitely been India's game so far. Pakistan 25/2

Indian cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (L) celebrates with teammates after he dismissed Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Pakistan and India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 19, 2018. / AFP / ISHARA S. KODIKARA
Indian cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, left, celebrates taking the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq. AFP

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3.50pm: WICKET!

A blistering start for India - Kumar with his second wicket after Fakhar Zaman skies a top-edge to mid-wicket, caught by Yuzvendra Chahal. Zaman departs for a nine-ball duck. Pakistan 3/2.

3.40pm: WICKET!

Early breakthrough for India as Bhuvneshwar Kumar removes Imam-ul-Haq for two runs, the opener caught behind by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. Pakistan 2/1.

3.15pm - Team news

India make two changes from Tuesday's win over Hong Kong. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya coming in to the line-up.

Pakistan are unchanged from the team that had a much more comfortable win over Hong Kong on Sunday.

India: Rohit (capt), Dhawan, Rayudu, Dhoni, Karthik, Jadhav, Pandya, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Chahal, Kuldeep

Pakistan: Imam, Fakhar, Babar, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz (capt), Asif Ali, Shadab, Faheem, Amir, Hasan, Usman Khan

India are the defacto home side for this clash, and as Paul Radley acknowledges below, that will be a novel experience for a Pakistan side who have used the UAE for their home matches since 2009.

3.05pm - Pakistan win the toss and will bat

Sarfraz Ahmed has won the toss and the Pakistan captain has elected to bat against India.

It will be a tough test for India's bowlers, who were out in the field against Hong Kong until 11.30pm last night.

The action begins at 3.30pm.

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3pm - Some fans know where they stand

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2.55pm - Fans getting ready for the game

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2.35pm - Past classics in the UAE

We are less than a hour away from the start of the action in Dubai. The teams will be announced at 3pm and that will be when the toss is made out in the middle that will decide how this game will go down.

To get you in the mood, Paul Radley looks back here at past classic encounters between the two sides in the UAE.

Watch video for one of them:

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2.10pm - Players of both teams on their way

The Indian and Pakistani players and support staff are making their way to the stadium ahead of the big clash. Goes without saying, they meet some of their biggest fans outside their respective hotels.

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2.05pm - Fans facing traffic holdups

Even as the game gets underway at 3.30pm, traffic is at a crawl in the area surrounding the stadium in Dubai Sports City.

Full update here.

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2pm - Nice gesture from Team India

Members of the Indian team made their way to Hong Kong's dressing room last night, to spend time talking cricket and wish them well. Good ambassadorship, we say!

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1.55pm - Pakistan away team?

Paul Radley, our man at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, has this point to make - and it's a good one:

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1.45pm - Why India should bat first

The Indian batsmen will be understandably tired when they face Pakistan today after having to take the field on back-to-back days. They found it difficult to beat a spirited Hong Kong side yesterday, and it looks like they will struggle against the Pakistan cricketers, who had beaten the Hong Kongers three days ago and will have got some rest before today's game.

Considering it is hot in Dubai, it would make sense for India to bat first - if captain Rohit Sharma wins the toss, of course. That will give the bulk of the team a breather before they get ready to bowl after sunset.

Indian cricketer Khaleel Ahmed appeals successfully for the wicket of Hong Kong batsman Nizakat Khan (L) during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at The Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 15, 2018. / AFP / ISHARA S.  KODIKARA
India did not have it straightforward against a spirited Hong Kong side in Dubai on Tuesday night. AFP

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1.05pm - Fans arriving early

The doors opened early to allow those attending the action at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to get to their seats nice and early.

Our man Paul Radley is impressed with the dedication, given proceedings do not start until 3.30pm and it promises to be a long hard afternoon.

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12.35pm - Gavaskar unsure of India's chances

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has picked Pakistan as favourites against India in Virat Kohli's absence.

The last time the two arch-rivals played what is always an emotionally charged fixture - the final of the Champions Trophy last year - Pakistan thrashed India by 180 runs.

"Pakistan is the favourite only because the big psychological advantage that they have of beating India in the final of the Champions Trophy," said Gavaskar, a member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning side.

Read full story here.

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11.45am - India v Pakistan

Good morning. So, here we are. India v Pakistan. One of cricket's greatest match-ups set to play out the latest chapter in their rivalry in the UAE.

A sell-out crowd of 25,000 will pack into the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for their Group A Asia Cup encounter.

Both sides are already guaranteed a spot in the Super Four stages of the competition, having each claimed victory over Hong Kong.

This is the first time since the Champions Trophy final in England in June 2017, which Pakistan won by 180 runs, that the teams have played each other.

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Listen to The Cricket Pod

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Play starts at 3.30pm UAE time and we will keep you updated on all the developments during the day from the action in Dubai, with fans already beginning to arrive at the stadium.

Pakistan will be slight favourites given they have not played since Sunday, when they beat Hong Kong by eight wickets.

India will back on the field just under 16 hours after they were given a scare by Hong Kong, winning by only 26 runs in a match that was much closer then expected.

Stay with us more preview and colour as the countdown to India v Pakistan gets closer.

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Read more:

Asia Cup: Pakistan hand over home-team status to India when rivals clash in Dubai

Explainer: India v Pakistan – all you need to know about the Asia Cup clash

India v Pakistan: Classic moments from matches in UAE

India v Pakistan in UAE: By the numbers