Pakistan is set to face their arch-rivals India in the 3rd match of the Asia Cup tournament 2023 at Kandy, which is set to start at 3 pm IST.
Pakistan playing 11 against India
Pakistan will be playing their second match in the tournament against India at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan has been currently ranked as no. 1 by ICC in men’s ODI team rankings.
With the match to start on September 2, the Pakistan team has revealed its playing 11 team against India. With Babar Azam leading his side, the team is awaiting a major tournament title and has also set their eyes on the World Cup.
Pakistan’s immense bowling attack gives them the opportunity to win the title. The likes of pacers Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf will set their team apart from other teams in the tournament.
It is expected that the Pakistan squad for the World Cup will be more or less selected from the squad of the Asia Cup. By now, the Pakistan Cricket Board should have identified key players from the group. It is expected that Imam will be opening the batting for Pakistan who scored a total of 165 runs in the ODI series against Afghanistan recently.
Pakistan played their first match of the tournament against Nepal at Multan where they had an easy win with a 238-run difference. Winning the toss, Babar Azam chose to bat.
With the openers failing to create an impression, Babar Azam came to the team’s rescue as he scored his 19th ODI century. After Rizwan’s dismissal, Iftikhar Ahmed joined forces with Babar Azam and scored a partnership run of 214 runs. Babar Azam had scored 151 runs out of 131 balls and was sent to Pavilion on the last over of Pakistan’s innings.
Iftikhar Ahmed was also impressive as he scored a maiden century in 67 balls joining the list of elite batters of the fastest ODI century. Pakistan concluded their innings scoring 342 runs and losing 6 wickets. Shadab Khan also played a crucial role through his bowling as he had a four-wicket haul to ensure the quick victory of his side. In the end, Pakistan won the match by folding Nepal by 104 runs.
With their win in the first match, Pakistan had made no changes to the playing 11. Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the finals of the Asia Cup 2022 and has won two titles in the continental event. Pakistan side have won the recent ODI series against Afghanistan 3-0. On this occasion, the playing 11 picked for the match against India had created huge expectations for the clash.
But there are heavy rain indications around the IND-PAK clash. According to the reports from Weather sources, there is an 80% chance of rain probability in Pallekele on September 2.
CHECK: PAK vs IND Asia Cup 2023 Dream11 Prediction, Pitch Report
Pakistan Playing 11 against India
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
