ICC World T20: Indo-Pak rivalry is bigger than Ashes, says Ravichandran Ashwin

New Delhi: India cricket team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said on Friday that Indo-Pak rivalry is bigger than the Ashes ahead of  Saturday's high-voltage encounter in the ICC World Twenty20 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Indo-Pak games are considered as the mother of all battles and the frontline spinner cited it's not just a game but like a border rivalry.

“Rivalry is huge, its bigger than the ashes. Its not a game, more like a border rivalry,” said Ashwin.

India lost their opening tie against New Zealand as Pakistan scripted a convincing victory against Bangladesh.

Ashwin said the tie will go in as 50-50 when the two sides meet and praised Pakistan for their brilliant performance against the Tigers.

“No one starts as favourites, its 50-50 I think. Pakistan played against Bangladesh brilliantly” said Ashwin on Friday.

India are in huge pressure to win the tie as a loss would see them exit the tournament.

Ashwin downplayed the pressure situation by saying they are used to playing a lot against Pakistan.

“Don’t think we really see lot of pressure in this game. We’re used to playing a lot of Indo-Pak games,” said Ashwin.

The Indo-Pak games have a lot of emotions running and Ashwin said that it is the job of the players to keep emotions aside as people put a lot of this aspect into the game.

“People put their emotions into game.For players it’s trying and keeping emotions aside and playing the game the best way we can,” cited Ashwin.

India will face-off against Pakistan at 7:30 pm (IST) on Saturday.