Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra wants India to maintain pressure on Pakistan’s other top-order batters in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four clash between the two sides. However, both teams will lock horns at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, September 10. The group game between the two teams didn’t see a result as rain played spoilsports.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “In Pakistan’s batting, Fakhar Zaman hasn’t yet scored runs. So you need to maintain pressure on him because Pakistan will be a threat eventually. They are now as well and will be going forward too, but Pakistan will also reach the semi-finals (of the World Cup). If we will reach, they will also reach.”
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The former Indian player added: “So it’s important to maintain it if you have an upper hand against someone. Babar Azam hasn’t yet scored a half-century against India in ODI cricket – maintain pressure on him. Put pressure on Imam-ul-Haq, if you give them blows at the start, the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Agha Salman can crumble under pressure.”
However, Babar Azam has aggregated 158 runs which came at an underwhelming average of 31.60 in his five ODI innings against India. It is his worst average among other teams against whom he has played more than one game in the 50-over format as well.
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“Their fast bowling is slightly better. Your heart says you shouldn’t say that but you feel that their bowling is better with the kind of form that they are in. However, your bowling has the might to demolish the opposition team at the start and then spin can come to the fore. I am expecting a great game of cricket if the entire 100 overs are played. If that doesn’t happen, it becomes a problem, because the match will go to the next day. Then Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will say why there is a reserve day for someone and not for them,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
