Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has stated that Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam will have to bat well during the clash between the two sides on Saturday in the Asia Cup 2023 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Ganguly said that India’s bowling attack will test the Pakistan skipper.
“He is a good player; there is no doubt about it. They [India] will have to bowl at him [during the World Cup]. Before that, they will have to bowl at him in the Asia Cup,” Ganguly told Star Sports.
“India will have plans for him, we have a good bowling attack. [Jasprit] Bumrah, [Mohammed] Shami, [Mohammed] Siraj is a serious fast bowling attack.
“Babar will also have to bat well to score runs against them because he knows they are up against a good fast bowling attack. India will have to bowl well to Babar Azam and vice-versa.”
He also lauded Pakistan’s bowling attack, which includes Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
“Pakistan has got a very good bowling attack – Naseem [Shah, [Shaheen] Afridi and Haris Rauf. They are a good fast bowling attack just like India. So they are a good bowling attack as well and India will have to bat well against them,” he concluded.
Pakistan began their Asia Cup 2023 campaign on a high with a massive 238-run win over Nepal on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, India will kick start their tournament with the match against their traditional rivals Pakistan.
India have the upper hand against Pakistan with seven wins in 13 Asia Cup (ODI) matches. Meanwhile, Pakistan have won five with one match ending in no result.
Pakistan have also lost four of the last five matches against India in the Asia Cup, with their last win coming in Mirpur in 2014. It was the same match where Shahid Afridi hit two consecutive sixes against Ravichandran Ashwin in the last over to get Pakistan over the line.
The Asia Cup 2023 will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka between August 30 and September 17.