Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, is confident that his team’s familiarity with Sri Lankan conditions will give them an advantage in the upcoming Asia Cup Super 4 encounter against India in Colombo. Several Pakistani players have been actively involved in Sri Lanka recently, including the Test series in July, the Lanka Premier League, and bilateral ODIs against Afghanistan. This experience in local conditions is seen as a valuable asset for Pakistan.
While India has also played in Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup, they faced rain-induced disruptions in their matches. In their opening match against Pakistan, rain limited them to just one innings, where they scored 266 runs. In a subsequent match against an opponent, they had to chase a revised target in 23 overs due to rain.
Babar Azam expressed confidence in his team’s advantage, saying, “Given the continuous cricket we are playing both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, you can say that we hold an edge (over India). We have been playing here in Sri Lanka for the past two months or so. We have played Tests, a series against Afghanistan, and the LPL. So it can be said that we have an advantage.”
Pakistan began their Super 4 stage with a convincing seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in Lahore, marking the last game of the tournament in Pakistan. All remaining Super 4 stage matches will be held in Colombo, where the threat of rain looms large, with a 90% precipitation forecast for the India vs. Pakistan clash on September 10.
The Pakistan team has faced the challenge of frequent travel, flying back and forth between Pakistan and Sri Lanka for matches. Babar Azam acknowledged the schedule’s demands but stressed that it couldn’t be used as an excuse, as the schedule was known well in advance. He emphasized the importance of proper player management and planning.
“We always knew the schedule and how much we have to travel. So, it’s become important how we look after our players. We have planned everything well,” he said.
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As Pakistan prepares to face India in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage, Babar Azam’s optimism about his team’s experience in Sri Lankan conditions adds an intriguing dimension to the upcoming clash. With rain disruptions and a challenging travel schedule, both teams will need to adapt and perform at their best to secure a spot in the final of the tournament.
