The Asia Cup 2023 is set to begin on August 30 and the high-octane clash between India and Pakistan will be taking place on September 2. Earlier, when the BCCI announced the Indian squad, the board chief selector Ajit Agarkar was questioned about the deadly pace attack of Pakistan. Agarkar replied by saying,” Virat Kohli will handle them”.
Days after that remark, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan responded and said that what one does on the field is the only thing that matters.
"Dekhiye, ye depend karta hai on a day. Main ya koi aur, ya unki taraf se koi aisa bol de, to bolne se kuch nahi hota, kuch change nahi hota. Jab match hoga, match mein jo cheezein nazar ayengi, asal cheez wahi hoti hai (See, it all depends on what happens that day. Me or someone else, or someone from their side, can say whatever they want. It doesn't make any difference. When the match takes place, then only we'll get to know what is the reality)," Shadab said.
It was Virat Kohli who guided India to a victory over Pakistan back in the 2022 T20 World Cup league-stage match. The former India skipper produced one of the best T20I knocks in history as he scored an unbeaten 82 off 53 deliveries in the group game against Pakistan. India at one point were reeling at 31/4 in the 160-run chase but then Kohli stood there from one end and formed a 113-run stand alongside Hardik Pandya (40). Kohli also smashed Haris Rauf for two incredible sixes off successive deliveries when India needed 28 runs off 8 deliveries to win the match.
In the recently passed series against Afghanistan, Shadab played a crucial role and helped Pakistan secure a 3-0 series sweep. On the back of this series win, Pakistan also went top of the ICC ODI Rankings. Pakistan will start its Asia Cup campaign by playing against Nepal on August 30.