COLOMBO: In the lead-up to the much-awaited cricket spectacle between Pakistan and India at the Asia Cup 2023, the Pakistan cricket team has officially declared an unchanged playing XI for the upcoming clash at the Pakelle Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan will take on their arch-rivals, India, with the same squad that secured a resounding victory against Nepal in the first Asia Cup match, held last Wednesday in Multan.
The Pakistani team arrived in Kandy on Thursday, marking their presence in Sri Lanka for the tournament.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, noted that the “Men in Green” enjoy a home advantage in Sri Lanka, having recently played a considerable amount of cricket in the country.
Pakistan has become well-acquainted with Sri Lankan conditions over the past two months. They participated in a Test series against the Sri Lankan national team, followed by an ODI series against Afghanistan. Additionally, some players took part in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) held in Sri Lanka.
Babar Azam emphasized that there is no undue pressure on the team, emphasizing their winning momentum and their commitment to maintain it.
The Pakistan-India clash is one of the most highly-anticipated matches in the cricketing world, and Babar Azam expressed the team’s determination to perform well. He noted that the entire world anticipates this match, and they are hopeful it will live up to the expectations.
The skipper also mentioned that the team’s middle order has shown improvement, addressing a previous concern.
Large numbers of spectators have already gathered in the host city of Kandy to witness the thrilling contest.
Pakistan Squad
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah
