Pakistan’s Bowlers Stun India in Asia Cup Showdown
In the much-awaited Asia Cup 2023 clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India, Pakistani pacemen Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf wreaked havoc on India’s top-order batting lineup. The intense face-off occurred in Kandy, Sri Lanka, and left Team India struggling to regain momentum.
Shaheen Afridi sent Indian captain Rohit Sharma back to the pavilion for just 11 runs, while cricket icon Virat Kohli was dismissed for a mere four runs. Haris Rauf continued the onslaught by getting Shreyas Iyer out for 14 runs. India’s score stood at a precarious 58 runs in 11.4 overs at that juncture.
Rain interruptions twice paused the game, which initially kicked off at 2:30 p.m. local time. If India manages to maintain their current run rate of 4.83 per over, it could potentially reach a total of 242 runs.
Today’s high-stakes match comes amid heightened excitement as it sets the stage for the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2023. Pakistan started the tournament impressively, destroying Nepal by 238 runs, while India boasts one of its finest squads. Both teams are part of Group A in the game, with Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh making up Group B. The qualifier will be determined through matches between Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore, and the UAE.
Kandy Weather Update
Earlier, the weather forecast had raised concerns about possible rain interruptions for this crucial Pakistan vs. India match. However, the latest weather updates suggest a reduced likelihood of rain affecting the play in Kandy. Nonetheless, fans and players alike are anxiously keeping tabs on the weather.
In case the match is washed out due to rain, both teams will earn a point each. This would automatically qualify Pakistan for the Super Fours stage, while India would need to avoid a loss in future matches to advance.
Team Lineups
Pakistan: Babar Azam (Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
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