MIRPUR, Bangladesh: Pakistan are banking on their potent pace battery spearheaded by comeback star Mohammad Amir to counter India’s prolific batting line-up when the two rivals clash in their mouth-watering Asia Cup Twenty20 encounter here on Saturday.
Confident of his pace attack, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said his fast bowlers are capable of sending the Indian top-order packing in the first six overs.
“Pace bowlers are the main form of attack in these conditions. We have got four pacers and they are just cricketers who are considered to be wicket-taking. Our fast bowlers will try to utilise the opening six overs by removing their batsmen as that is considered to be their strength,” Afridi said at the pre-match press conference on Friday.
Afridi though acknowledged that Indian batsmen do play spinners very well. In the spin department, Afridi will be supported by left-arm spinner Muhammad Nawaz, who has done well in the recently concluded PSL.
“Indian batsmen usually play spinners very well and they have in form players in their squad as they have come here playing some good cricket. I think apart from me there is Mohammad Nawaz who performed really well in the domestic cricket as well as in the PSL. The fast bowlers are also in good shape whether it is Amir, Wahab or Irfan.
“I know their batting is strong but we also have a formidable bowling attack. I hope the result will be good for us,” said Afridi.
He admitted that an Indo-Pak match is always a battle between his bowlers and Dhoni’s batsmen.
“It has always been the case. They will try to score heavily and we also have strength in our batting. We just hope we don’t repeat our mistakes (in bowling) and stick to basics.”
Afridi whose batting has deteriorated over the years said he is more of a bowler these days than a batsman.
“My main strength is my bowling but where I bat I can also contribute for the team and that is important. Whether it is 20 or 30 runs but it is important,” he said.
There were talks about his decision to re-think on retiring after World T20 but Afridi dodged the issue.
“I think for me the Asia Cup and the World Cup is more important than my retirement and I am focusing on that at the moment.”
The match will also serve as a pre-cursor to the two teams’ opening round battle in the ICC World Twenty20, next month.
The Indo-Pak cricket contests over the years have carried a legacy, not to forget the political undercurrents involved whenever the two bitter neighbours square off on the 22 yards.
But the most exciting aspect will be whether the tainted Amir gets to play in the XI.
Back after serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing, Amir has started playing for the national team since the tour of New Zealand and this immensely talented bowler will certainly come out all guns blazing against the Indian batsmen.
India’s Virat Kohli has already welcomed Amir’s return but not much is known as to what other Indian players, including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, think about the convicted spot-fixer’s inclusion.
For Amir, a good performance against India will probably help him gain some credibility not only in the dressing room but also among the common cricket-loving public in Pakistan.
In terms of preparation, both teams have been suitably prepared considering the amount of Twenty20 cricket they have played in the past one month.
India already kicked off their World T20 preparations in style, having won six out of the seven games played so far. Pakistan cricketers, on the other hand, are coming straight after playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which keeps them well prepared.
Traditionally, India have never ever lost to Pakistan in the global events but it has not been the case in the continental event where Shahid Afridi and co have performed well.
However, the Asia Cup has never been played in the T20 format, which is also a first.
The two teams met exactly a year and 11 days back in Adelaide during the 50-over World Cup game which India won by 76 runs.
Post World Cup, the proposed series on a neutral venue never happened as the BCCI did not get approval from the Indian government.
On field, the Indian team, under Dhoni, is peaking at the right time with all the departments coming together. The emergence of Hardik Pandya as a batting all-rounder, who can bowl seam-up, has lent the side requisite balance that Dhoni had long been craving for.
Over the years, one has been a witness to Pakistan teams hitting the zenith and nadir in a space of few matches. On paper, Indians are way ahead in each and every department of the game but the beauty of this game is Pakistan’s unpredictability.
The only worry would be Dhoni’s back spasm even though he played ignoring the pain against Bangladesh in their 45-run win. In case Dhoni decides to skip, there is Parthiv Patel as cover.
For Pakistan, their opening pair is likely to be Mohammed Hafeez and Sharjeel Khan, who just had a good PSL scoring 299 runs for his franchise.
Dhoni and Ashish Nehra were given time off from training in Fatullah on Friday. It seems the back spasms that troubled the captain haven’t completely died down. Dhoni had said it had been “difficult” convincing the team management to let him play the Asia Cup opener. Perhaps the weight of an India-Pakistan game might just persuade him to stand his ground again.
Pakistan are rife with fast bowlers. Mohammad Sami is back again, Amir looks like he’s back for good, Mohammad Irfan doesn’t spare his own batsmen of the discomfort a seven-foot quick can cause, Wahab Riaz loves a fight and Anwar Ali can be excellent with the new ball. All of them trained under Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood’s watchful eyes. Even the captain Shahid Afridi agreed the game would be a contest between his bowlers and India’s batsmen.
The pitches for the Fatullah qualifiers were brilliant for batting. The ball came on nicely and the bounce was true. Mirpur has also been similar, except for the fact that early on it has also provided sideways movement. Light showers are forecast for the morning, but they shouldn’t impact the match.
Asia Cup Twenty20
Pakistan vs India
06:30pm (PST)