ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face off debutants Nepal within the opening match of Asia Cup on the Multan Cricket Stadium at present, with the Green Shirts on a excessive following their 3-0 win in opposition to Afghanistan final week.
The six-nation Asia Cup — which Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosting after India refused to tour Pakistan over political tensions — will embrace three different matches in Lahore.
The event is a last likelihood for groups from the area to measurement one another up earlier than the World Cup in India beginning in October.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has burdened his staff is concentrated on the opening recreation in opposition to Nepal reasonably than in opposition to arch-rivals India.
“Our collection in opposition to Afghanistan went very properly and we performed good cricket and dominated,” Azam instructed reporters at a information convention in Multan on Tuesday.
“Pakistan and India matches are at all times of excessive depth and we are going to attempt to play the most effective cricket on that day, however in the intervening time we’re centered on Nepal and won’t take them flippantly.”
India, Pakistan and Nepal are in Group A, whereas defending champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan kind Group B.
The high two groups from every group will qualify for the Super Four levels.
Pakistan will fly to Sri Lanka to play India in Pallekele on September 2 earlier than enjoying a Super Four match in Lahore after which returning to Sri Lanka for the remaining matches.
India will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, the place 9 matches — together with the September 17 last — might be staged.
Pakistan are on a excessive, having whitewashed Afghanistan 3-0 in Sri Lanka final week to rise to the highest of the one-day worldwide rankings.
Nepal certified for the Asia Cup after profitable the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup in April at home, beating Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Nepal might be hoping their high-quality spinner Sandeep Lamichhane trigger some issues for Pakistan batting which incorporates world’s top-ranked batter Azam, quantity three Imam-ul-Haq and quantity 5 Fakhar Zaman.
Their inexperienced batting might be examined by world’s high tempo trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
