India and Pakistan to clash in Asia Cup 2023 on September 2.
Pakistan is the official host of the Asia Cup which will be played in ODI format this year. But Sri Lanka will host the matches involving India and the final as well, while Pakistan will host 3 league stage matches and one Super Four encounter.
Recently, the PCB named an 18-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023 and the Afghanistan ODIs. Babar Azam's Pakistan will warm up for the Asia Cup by playing a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka, to be played on August 22, 24, and 26.
Then Pakistan and India will clash in the Asia Cup on September 2nd in Kandy in the group stage. Speaking about the Indo-Pak rivalry ahead of the showpiece event, former Pakistani cricketer Aaqib Javed observed that Pakistan will have a much-balanced side for the World Cup.
"I think the Pakistan side is balanced and the age graph of players is much better, India is on that stage where they have big names but their fitness and form are not up to the mark. They will struggle and might have to find new players to form a combination. I think Pakistan has a great chance of beating India in India," Javed was quoted as saying by Cricwick.
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Meanwhile, Pakistan recalled Faheem Ashraf in ODIs after two years, as the all-rounder has 28 wickets and scored 1.060 runs for Pakistan in 31 ODIs.
Javed also hailed the inclusion of pacer Zaman Khan in the Pakistan squad and said rated him over Naseem Shah for his death over skills in white-ball cricket.
"In white-ball cricket, the skills that Zaman Khan has, we have recently been in Canada, I think he is one of the best death ball bowlers in the world right now. I rate him higher than Naseem in white-ball cricket. Shaheen, Haris, and Zaman, they should be your bowlers in white-ball cricket and then you can go down to Naseem Shah," he added.
The Asia Cup begins on August 30 with Pakistan taking on Nepal in Multan.