COLOMBO: Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed confidence on Saturday that his team holds an advantage over India as they gear up for their Asia Cup Super Four clash. He attributed this edge to their strong bowling lineup, which he believes is capable of winning matches and tournaments.
The arch-rivals are set to face off again in Colombo on Sunday, following their group match’s abandonment due to rain. The persistent rain has disrupted the 50-over tournament, which serves as a precursor to the ODI World Cup in India.
Matches between India and Pakistan remain among the most highly anticipated in world cricket, given the intense rivalry between the two South Asian neighbors. Due to political tensions, they only meet in multi-nation tournaments.
Pakistan secured a victory in their opening Super Four stage match, and another win would significantly boost their chances of reaching the final scheduled for September 17. However, the threat of rain looms over the match, with a reserve day allocated if needed.
Babar Azam Praises Pakistan’s Bowling Attack
Captain Azam spoke optimistically about his team’s position, stating, “You can say we have the edge, as we have played back-to-back cricket here (in Sri Lanka) and in Pakistan.” He highlighted that Pakistan’s extensive cricketing activities in Sri Lanka over the past two and a half months have provided them with an advantage.
Pakistan’s trio of pace bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, has been impressive, collectively taking 23 wickets in the tournament. Shaheen, the left-arm quick leading the bowling attack, caused problems for India in the group match by dismissing key batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Azam emphasized his belief in their bowlers’ ability to deliver success, saying, “Fast bowlers win you tournaments and matches, and I have total belief (in) them. The line-up that we have, including Naseem and Faheem (Ashraf), is the best lot that we have.”
Indian opener Shubman Gill acknowledged the challenge of facing Pakistan’s formidable bowling attack, especially when encounters between the two teams are infrequent. He stated, “We all know that their bowling attack is quite good, and when you don’t play against such attacks often, it makes a bit of difference in main tournaments.”
To prepare for Pakistan’s left-arm quick Shaheen, Gill and the Indian batsmen have been practicing against a left-arm specialist. Gill expressed that this variation in training has been beneficial.
Reflecting on India’s recent performance against Pakistan, Gill mentioned the team’s ability to bounce back after a challenging start, saying, “In the league match, our top order did not click much, still we made a competitive total…so, it was a good sign.”
