Pakistan national cricket team captain Babar Azam on Saturday finalised the playing XI for tomorrow’s (Sunday) match against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf will take on the arch-rivals for tomorrow’s clash.
– Rizwan throws his weight behind Fakhar Zaman –
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan on Friday threw his weight behind opener Fakhar Zaman, despite the latter going through a rough patch.
Speaking to the media before the all-important Super Four match against arch-rivals India on September 10, Rizwan said: "The weather is not in our hands, but the preparation is."
Regarding the interaction with Indian players, Rizwan said: "Not only with the Indian players but also with the rest of the players, we talk about the performance."
"All the players share good relations with each other, whether they are Indian players or not." However, the environment on the cricket field is different," Rizwan added.
He made it clear that the Babar Azam-inspired side did not to change the combination of the openers.
Reacting to legendary cricketer Javed Miandad’s comment on Rizwan’s batting, he said, "I am humbled that Javed Miandad deemed me as Chhupa Rustam, which really matters to me. Such comments boost my morale a lot."
He also underlined the reasons why Pakistan is currently the number-one side in the ODIs. "The role of our fast bowler in placing us at the number one spot is commendable. All our three bowlers [Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi] are putting the oppositions on the backfoot."
Recalling the previous match against India on Saturday, Rizwan said, "The 267-run target posted by India against Pakistan was not so easy to chase".
– Upbeat Pakistan –
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing Asia Cup, the Pakistan cricket team seemed to be in an upbeat mood.
Not only the cricketers, but the coaching staff also seemed to relax despite flexing their muscles to keep the Babar Azam-inspired side motivated to do wonders not only in the Asia Cup but in the World Cup as well.
Taking advantage of the leisure time, the Pakistan coaching staff—head coach Grant Bradburn, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and batting coach Andrew Puttick—left the team and enjoyed the experience of riding in the rickshaw in Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan cricket team had been scheduled to take part in the practice session that will last for two hours.
After two days of rest in the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh tomorrow (Saturday).
