Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan will have an edge over India in Super Four match, feels Babar Azam

Babar Azam confident of Pakistan's chances against India in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 Super Four clash.

India will be taking on Pakistan once again in the Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo in the Super 4 round. Pakistan did make India uncomfortable with their pace bowling attack in their previous encounter in the Group A league round. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf did had a win against the Indian top-order at Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy.

Now with both teams getting ready to go head-on once again in the tournament, Pakistan captain Babar Azam looks confident about Pakistan’s chances against India. Pakistan players have played most of their cricket in the last few months in this country. 

Babar feels Pakistan will have an edge

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam feels that playing continuous cricket in Sri Lanka will be helpful for Pakistan players against India. Babar Azam said, “Given the continuous cricket we are playing both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, you can say that we hold an edge. We have been playing here in Sri Lanka for the past two months or so. We have played Tests, We played a series against Afghanistan and then the LPL… So it can be said that we have an advantage.” Pakistan played a 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan and before that, a big name were taking part in the Lanka Premier League. 

Apart from India, most of the teams had been travelling a lot in the tournament. For the first time in history, the Asia Cup is being played in a hybrid model with Pakistan as hosts and Sri Lanka as co-hosts as BCCI refused to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. Pakistani captain Babar Azam has said that the team is taking care of this well and planned everything accordingly. Pakistan played the opening game in Multan and then they travelled to Kandy to play against India, then they again travelled to Lahore for their opening clash of Super 4 against Bangladesh. Now with the rest of the tournament scheduled in Colombo, they are back in Sri Lanka. 

Pakistan need one win to put themselves in a comfortable position in the race for the Asia Cup 2023 Final. Pakistan have already defeated Bangladesh in the opening game of the Super 4 round. It will not be an easy task for Pakistan as team India will enter with a strategy to tackle Pakistani pacers in the game. With Jasprit Bumrah joining back again after his short break, Team India will be making one change in their playing XI. Mohammed Shami, who went wicketless against Nepal, might make way for Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI. Team Management will take a call on whether they continue with Ishan Kishan or go with KL Rahul as wicket-keeper.