India Chooses to Bat First Against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023
In a highly anticipated match of the Asia Cup 2023, India has chosen to bat first against their traditional rivals, Pakistan. The match is taking place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
The decision came after India won the toss, setting the stage for an intense cricketing encounter. Pakistan’s team remains unchanged from their previous victory over Nepal, where they triumphed by a staggering 238 runs. Despite not having the advantage of deciding the game’s initial course, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed confidence in his team’s familiarity with the conditions and their ability to maintain composure during high-intensity matches.
This match marks the beginning of India’s journey in the tournament, and they enter it with a historical advantage. Out of 13 Asia Cup One Day International (ODI) matches played between the two nations, India has emerged victorious seven times, while Pakistan has won five, with one match ending inconclusively. However, Pakistan’s last win against India in the Asia Cup dates back to 2014 in Mirpur, where Shahid Afridi’s two consecutive sixes against Ravichandran Ashwin led Pakistan to victory.
The Asia Cup 2023, scheduled between August 30 and September 17, will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Four matches are set to take place in Pakistan, while nine, including the final, will be held in Sri Lanka. Pakistan shares Group A with Nepal and India, while Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka make up Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 4 stage of the tournament.
The Indian lineup includes Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Pakistan’s team comprises Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
