ISLAMABAD: After troubling Indian batters with his express pace and swing a day earlier, Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah said on Sunday he was focused on playing impressive cricket in Lahore, where the Green Shirts next meet their opponents from Asia Cup’s Group B.
Shah and fellow pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were too good for the Indian batters during Pakistan and India’s high-octane Asia Cup clash on Saturday at Kandy. Afridi led the attack, taking four wickets while Rauf and Shah took three each to dismiss India for 266 before rain abandoned play. Shah troubled Indian batters Shubnam Gill, Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and others, giving away only 36 runs from 8.5 overs at an economy rate of 4.08.
Pakistan are scheduled to play their next match of the Asia Cup 2023 against the second-placed team from Group B (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) in Lahore on Wednesday. In a video message shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shah said he had played a lot of cricket at the Under-16 level in Lahore and was excited to return to the city for an Asia Cup fixture.
“So, we are looking forward to our match there [in Lahore] and will enjoy it there and try our best to win the match,” Shah said.
About his bowling performance against India, Shah said ODI was a different format where a bowler has to bowl with “patience,” adding that since the ball was swinging a lot, all he had to do was bowl to the Indian batters at the right areas.
“The way Shaheen started was outstanding,” the pacer said, referring to Afridi taking the early wickets of Sharma and Kohli. “The way he bowled and then Haris bowled brilliantly so I think credit goes to everyone and we are extremely happy that everyone put in their efforts.”
Pakistan, who were finalists during last year’s T20 edition of the Asia Cup, have won the tournament only twice.
