Asian Champions Trophy 2018: Final, India vs Pakistan Live Score, Latest Updates & Results

INDIA AND PAKISTAN DECLARED JOINT WINNERS

INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN DECLARED AS THE JOINT WINNERS OF THE FIFTH EDITION OF THE ASIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY AT MUSCAT AFTER HEAVY RAIN CAUSED THE PITCH TO BE DEEMED UNPLAYABLE

The rain is reducing as we await an update regarding the start of the match

Earlier tonight, Malaysia faced Japan in the bronze-medal match.

In the Asian Games final at Jakarta, the Japanese had prevailed in the shootout - the tables have now turned and Roelant Oltmans' boys have won bronze beating Japan in a shootout after both teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time.

THERE WILL BE A PITCH INSPECTION IN 25 MINUTES - THE START HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO HEAVY RAIN

The conditions are far from ideal - so, which team will cope better with a wet pitch??

"Do not fall prey to the hype" says Harendra Singh

"Attacking is our strength - and that is what we will do" says Hassan Sardar

The rain is pelting down at Muscat ahead of the big finals

Good evening and welcome to our coverage

Here’s a look at the 11 players of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team who will take on Pakistan in the Final of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2018 on 27th October. Watch LIVE on @StarSportsIndia 2/2HD and @hotstartweets from 10:40 PM (IST). #IndiaKaGame #HeroACT2018 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/BisAomuEsK
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 28, 2018

THE INDIAN SQUAD FOR THE ASIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY

HEAD COACH: HARENDRA SINGH

ANALYTICAL COACH: CHRIS CIRIELLO

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak.

Harmanpreet Singh, Gurinder Singh, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Surender Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh. Manpreet Singh (Captain), Sumit Nilakanta Sharma Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (Vice Captain).

THE PAKISTAN SQUAD FOR THE ASIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY

HEAD COACH: HASSAN SARDAR

ASSISTANT COACH: REHAN BUTT

Goalkeepers: Imran Butt and Mazhar Abbas

M Irfan Senior, Aleem Bilal, Mubashar Ali, M Tauseeq Arshad, Tasawwar Abbas, Ajaz Ahmed, Ammad Shakeel Butt (vice captain), M Irfan Junior, M Rizwan Senior (captain), Ali Shan, M Rizwan Junior, Faisal Qadir, Abubakr Mahmood, Umar Bhutta, M Atiq Arshad and M Zubair.

Pakistan has failed to beat India ever since they met in a pool game of the 2016 edition of the Asian Champions Trophy and also failed to defend their title after going down to their arch-rivals in the final of the same competition.

A couple of huge wins in the Hockey World League Semifinals followed by two more in the Asia Cup last year gave the Indians immense confidence that they could indeed beat Pakistan consistently - and convincingly as well.

India's dominant run continued this year with victories over their neighbors in pool matches of the Champions Trophy and also in last week's round-robin encounter at Muscat.

The Men in Green managed a 2-2 draw in the Commonwealth Games but have failed to beat India ten times in a row.

Will tonight be any different?

Well, it's a high-pressure final and although India start favorites, the Pakistanis seem to be shaping up well under the tutelage of
Hassan Sardar and Rehan Butt.

Both sides had a hard time getting to the final after a couple of close semifinal encounters yesterday, and fitness is certain to play a role as well.

Pakistan will, in all probability, miss the services of captain Rizwan Sr. who did not take the field last night, and have a couple of
other players carrying injuries as well, but showed no signs of slowing down against the Malaysians last night.

It is a well-known fact that an India-Pakistan encounter brings out the very best in players from both sides and yet another classic contest is expected tonight.

So, follow the action beginning at 2230 IST