This is perhaps how the schedule makers of the Asia Cup intended it to be. The final group stage game with all to play for and the potential of the moolah-raking India-Pakistan finale. But there's nothing foregone about the virtual semifinal on Wednesday. Bangladesh after all, pulled off something similar just tow years ago - beating Pakistan to make the final of Asia Cup 2016, where they eventually lost to India.
Asia Cup campaigns of Pakistan and Bangladesh can best be described as severely [and similarly] inconsistent, with both winning and losing games by equally-massive margins, and are both still alive thanks to their final-over wins over Afghanistan. Both teams have had encouraging individual performances but have fallen flat in the face of pressure - particularly from India, who the winner of this game will meet in the final.
The scheduling of the tournament afforded Bangladesh four off days after their opening game on September 15, but have then had to play three games in four days while also shuttling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They have cooled their heels over the past couple of days though. On the other hand, Pakistan's itinerary has been slightly less taxing, but two outings against India have been morale-sapping.
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