Pakistan opened their Asia Cup 2023 campaign with a crushing 238-run victory over Nepal in Multan on Wednesday (August 30).

The Men in Green will next face arch-rivals India at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (September 2).

Ahead of the blockbuster clash, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said his team is 100 percent ready to take on India.

"This game was good preparation for the India game because it gave us confidence," Babar said after Pakistan’s thumping win over Nepal.

"India-Pakistan will always bring high intensity. We want to give 100% in every match, hope to do that there as well," he added.

Coming to the Asia Cup 2023 opener, Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmad starred with the bat in Pakistan’s win. While the captain slammed 151 off 131 balls, Iftikhar stayed unbeaten on 109* off 71 balls.

The duo added 214 runs for the fifth wicket – the third-highest partnership for any wicket in ODI Asia Cup history. Thanks to their hundreds, the hosts racked up a mammoth 342/6 in their allotted 50 overs.

"When I went in, the ball wasn't coming on properly, so I was trying to build an innings with Rizwan," Babar stated.

"Iftikhar also played a great innings. When he came in, I told him to play his natural game and he was comfortable after hitting two-three boundaries."

Defending the total, Pakistani bowlers wreaked havoc on the Nepal batting line-up and bundled them out for 104 in 23.4 overs.

While the pace trio of Shaheen Afridi (2-27), Naseem Shah (1-17) and Haris Rauf (2-16) shared five wickets among them, the spin duo of Shadab Khan (4-27) and Mohammad Nawaz (1-13) dismissed the remaining Nepal batters.

(With TOI Inputs)