The highly anticipated Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023 between India and Pakistan is set to take place on Sunday, September 10. It’s worth noting that India’s group-stage encounter with Pakistan was unfortunately affected by rain at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on September 2, resulting in a washout.
As the eagerly anticipated clash between arch-rivals loomed in the Super Four stage of the 2023 Asia Cup, former fast bowler Shoaib had some advice for his national team, he advised the Pakistan team to avoid engaging in banter with the flamboyant batter Virat Kohli.
In a recent interview, Shoaib Akhtar, in a jovial tone, suggested that his team’s strategy should involve pressuring Kohli on the field rather than indulging in verbal exchanges. He emphasized the importance of diverting Kohli’s focus if they hoped to stand a chance of winning the crucial game.
“You shouldn’t talk to Virat Kohli. You just have to push him and remove his focus. Get him busy. And if he is busy batting, then he will win them the match,” Shoaib Akhtar told on ‘Wake Up With Sorabh’ (YouTube Channel).
When we talk about Virat Kohli’s performance in the ongoing Asia Cup, the fiery right-handed batsman experienced a tough time against Pakistan in his first encounter. He managed just four runs against the Men in Green, and in the second group stage clash against Nepal, he didn’t even get a chance to bat.
In their first meeting, Team India and Pakistan were unable to obtain a result when the match was washed out owing to rain in Kandy. It’s vital to note that weather can once again interfere with the highly anticipated battle between these cricketing titans in Colombo. However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has sensibly allocated a reserve day for the match to ensure it can be completed on Monday, September 11.
Babar Azam’s Pakistan team got off to a winning start in the Super Four round by defeating Bangladesh, and they’ll be desperate to maintain their momentum against India.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and his side will be eager to launch their Super Four campaign with a convincing victory against their arch-rivals. After the Pakistan encounter, India’s emphasis will move to vital matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, scheduled for September 12 and 15, respectively.
Indian Squad For Asia Cup 2023:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
Pakistan Squad For Asia Cup 2023 :
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir.
