Former India batting legend VVS Laxman has backed Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik need to perform well against India during the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament. He also asserted that Malik will play a major role with the bat if Pakistan dreams of winning the title. 

Talkin about Shoaib during a show on Star Sports, Laxman said, “Yeah, the reason he does well against India is his experience, he is a good player of spin bowling because in the middle invariably India will look to attack with the spinners and they’ve got two quality risk spinners now in, Chahal and Kuldeep while Pakistan is evidently dependent on their opener Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam at number 3. Shoaib Malik is someone who would look to play the anchor role because he has got the ability to rotate the strike, play down the ground, taking easy singles.”

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He further added, “But at the same time when he presses the accelerator, he can play the big shots and he has got an abundance of experience and he is a champion as far as the wide ball is concerned.”

The six participating nations are divided into two groups, A and B. Group A consists of India, Pakistan and Hong Kong while Group B includes Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The top two nations from each group will enter the Super Four stage of the tournament. Top two teams in the super four section will advance to the final.

Team India’s Asia Cup campaign will commence against Hong Kong on September 18 in their Group A fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India will play Pakistan the next day at the same venue. However, the final of the multi-nation tournament will be played on Friday, September 28.