ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has revealed their playing XI for the inaugural Asia Cup match against Nepal, slated to occur today at the Multan Cricket Stadium in a Group-A encounter.
Using the platform of X, formerly known as Twitter, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated: “Our playing XI for the first match of #AsiaCup2023.”
The selected playing XI comprises Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf.
‘We won’t take rival teams lightly’
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, emphasized that the Green Shirts won’t underestimate rival teams in the Asia Cup.
“We will maintain the winning momentum as we did in the series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka.” Babar conveyed this message while addressing a press conference before the inaugural Asia Cup match against Nepal.
The star batter expressed that the Pakistan team, which has regained the number one spot in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) one-day international (ODI) rankings, faced both criticism and praise. However, the team maintained its focus on cricket.
The skipper said, “When I got the captaincy, I tried to change the mindset of the team. People’s expectations have increased and we have to meet them. My goal is to benefit the team and I have stopped thinking at an individual level.”
Babar affirmed that the current team is at its peak form; however, there is still room for adjustments if required before the World Cup.
The captain further added that it would have been more favorable if the entire event had occurred in Pakistan, emphasizing the significance of the Pakistan-India match.
This contest is noteworthy for multiple firsts as Nepal’s debut as a team and Multan’s debut as a venue in the continental tournament. It also marks the first-ever encounter between Pakistan and Nepal at the highest level.
The picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium is set to host an electrifying atmosphere for the Wednesday showdown. Both teams will enjoy unwavering support from passionate Multan fans. An engaging opening ceremony awaits the fans before the 2:30pm kick-off.
Pakistan’s High Hopes and Momentum in Asia Cup Pursuit
Pakistan embarks on the Asia Cup with considerable momentum, holding the current top position in the ODI rankings. This marks the team’s second time leading the chart since April. Pakistan also boasts an impressive win/loss ratio of 2.750, securing 22 victories in 31 matches during this World Cup cycle.
Babar stated while reflecting on whether there is an added pressure for being the top-ranked side, “I would not say that there is a pressure. Rather, we enter this tournament with more confidence. This team has put in a lot of hard work and effort over the last few years and achieving the top spot is a testimony of it. The job, however, is not done as we want to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup. We have some competitive and exciting next few months lined up and we are eager to do well for our country.”
“Every player in this side wants to win matches for his country and raises their hand. They are always ready to put in the hard yards and never shy away from tough and difficult situations. We have had some amazing last few months and now it is time to build on the momentum.”
On August 31, Pakistan is set to travel to Sri Lanka, where they will face India in the second Group-A match scheduled for September 2 in Kandy. The same venue will also witness the third and concluding group match between India and Nepal on September 4.
