Pakistan are all set to take on India in high octane match of Asia Cup Twenty 20 (T20) today (Saturday here at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium Mirpur.
As has happened in the past, political tension between the two countries had sidelined a bilateral series that was supposed to take place in December 2015.
So here in Bangladesh they meet and add to a series of one-off contests dating back to the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. The last time India and Pakistan played a bilateral series was in 2012-13 – two T20Is and three ODIs.
The 35-year-old, Shahid Afridi also hinted that left-arm spinner Muhammad Nawaz, who impressed during the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) while playing for Quetta Gladiators, may be in line for a debut. “[In the spin department] Nawaz has performed really well in domestic cricket as well as in the PSL,” added Afridi. “All three fast bowlers — [Muhammad] Amir, Wahab [Riaz] or [Muhammad] Irfan — are also in good shape.”
India opener Rohit Sharma, who scored a match-winning 83 against hosts Bangladesh in the tournament opener said his side are not focusing on Amir alone. “We are preparing for every individual rather than for just one,” he said. “We have to be well prepared and are up for the challenge.”
The right-hander added that his side cannot afford to take Pakistan lightly. “They have been playing lot of T20 cricket of late,” he said. “There are challenges for a batsman on wickets such as Mirpur.”
