Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam to lead as Pakistan announce playing XI for heavyweight clash against India
Pakistan has announced the playing XI for their upcoming match against India in the 2023 Asia Cup. Pakistan will be taking on India on September 2 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan will be fielding an unchanged starting XI from the Asia Cup opener against Nepal. Pakistan hammered Nepal by 238 runs to get their Asia Cup campaign off to a flyer in Multan.
Babar Azam is set to lead the side, with all-rounder Shadab Khan named as vice-captain. Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq will be expected to open the batting for Pakistan, with Babar coming in at number 3. Wicket-keeping batter Mohammad Rizwan will slot in at number 4 with Salman Ali Agha in at number 5.
The hard-hitting Iftikhar Ahmed will bat at the number 6 position, with Shadab coming in at number 7. Muhammad Nawaz will come in at number 8 as the second spin-bowling option. Meanwhile, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will form Pakistan’s pace-bowling trio.
Pakistan registered a massive 238-run win over Nepal in their opening match in the 2023 Asia Cup at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Centuries from Babar and Iktikhar led Pakistan to a total of 342 for 6 in the first innings. Babar scored 151 runs off 131 balls, while Iftikhar remained unbeaten on 109 runs off 71 deliveries.
While Babar became just the second batter to cross the 150-run mark in Asia Cup history after India’s Virat Kohli, Iftikhar scored his maiden century in the 50-over format. In fact, Iktikhar and Babar’s partnership of 214 runs is the highest partnership for fifth wicket in the Asia Cup.
In reply, the hosts bowled out Nepal for just 104 runs in 23.4 with Shadab picking up four wickets, and Rauf and Afridi chipping in with a couple scalps each.
After beating Nepal, Pakistan will be looking to book their spot in the knockout stages of the Asia Cup when they meet India in Kandy.
