Key Takeaways
- Pakistani fast bowlers impressed by dismantling India’s batting lineup in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 clash in Kandy.
- All wickets against India were taken by the pace bowlers despite intermittent rain interruptions.
- Naseem Shah, a young seamer, highlighted the challenging weather conditions for fast bowlers in Sri Lanka during the tournament.
- Rainy weather and persistent showers in Sri Lankan host cities have posed difficulties for players.
- Shah discussed the team’s preparations and emphasized the importance of player self-care in hot and humid conditions.
- He expressed the team’s focus on the upcoming matches, without dwelling on the potential face-off with arch-rivals India.
- The Pakistani team’s wish is to reach and win the final, irrespective of their opponent.
- Naseem Shah shared his experience of playing his first-ever one-day international match against Indian batters and the differences between ODI and T20 formats.
- Patience and maintaining good bowling lengths were essential in his successful performance in ODIs.
- Shah’s exceptional economy rate of 3.83 distinguishes him among Pakistani bowlers, contributing to the team’s success in the tournament.
In the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 clash in Kandy, Pakistani fast bowlers showcased their exceptional skills by dismantling India’s entire batting lineup. Despite sporadic rain interruptions at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium last Saturday, all the wickets were taken by the pace bowlers. However, Naseem Shah, a young seamer from Pakistan, has shed light on the challenges fast bowlers face due to the current weather conditions in Sri Lanka.
Cities hosting the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka are currently experiencing rainy weather and persistent showers. Naseem Shah shared his thoughts during a conversation with journalists in Lahore, where he discussed the team’s preparations for their upcoming match. The opponent for the match is yet to be decided between Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh.
“He mentioned that the entire team is looking after themselves due to extensive travel and the hot weather both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
He emphasized that everyone is striving to recover and stay prepared for the game at hand. When asked about the potential face-off with arch-rivals India, the pacer replied, “Currently, the focus is on tomorrow’s match. We’ll decide once there’s a match against India.”
Expressing his desire for Pakistan to reach the finals, regardless of the opponent, he stated, “Our desire is to emerge victorious in the final.”
Following the Babar Azam-led team’s match against India, the 20-year-old pacer shared his experience of playing his first-ever one-day international match against Indian batters. Naseem Shah, known for his exceptional economy rate (3.83) among Pakistani bowlers, spoke about the nuances of bowling in ODIs.
“It was an incredible experience; my bowling performance was outstanding. You know the one-day format is different than T20; I have played T20Is against them,” said the pacer.
He emphasized the importance of patience in ODIs, noting that while seam and swing movements initially aided bowlers, the key is to give your best and consistently bowl at optimal lengths, as Shah pointed out.