Saim Ayub celebrates his century in ODI sequence in opposition to South Africa. -AFP
DUBAI: A day earlier than the much-awaited match, Pakistani opener Saim Ayub expressed confidence within the younger workforce forward of the high-profile Asia Cup conflict in opposition to India, scheduled for Sunday (tomorrow) in Dubai.
Talking at a pre-match press convention, the younger top-order batter emphasised that Pakistan’s focus is on profitable the match quite than simply the bilateral encounter.
Responding to a query on going through India’s quick bowler Jasprit Bumrah, Pakistan’s ace batsman Ayub stated he is able to tackle any bowler and embrace the problem. Nonetheless, he confused that the first goal “now is to lead the team to victory”.
He added that whereas the Pakistan-India match is critical for followers, the workforce approaches it in their very own means, with each participant striving to carry out at their finest.
Ayub underlined that success will not be restricted to 1 or two people; the goal is for various gamers to step up in every match, with mutual belief and assist inside the squad.
He additionally defined that the enjoying XI is chosen based mostly on pitch situations, with spinners given extra alternatives on drier surfaces.
Reflecting on the T20 match in the USA in the course of the T20I World Cup in 2024, Ayub stated the recollections of that recreation are faint, and the workforce is targeted on studying from the previous and concentrating on the current.
He concluded by asserting that Pakistan will play fearless cricket in opposition to all groups and can keep full focus in opposition to India.
Pakistan got here into the match in first rate nick, profitable a T20 tri-series within the UAE, additionally involving Afghanistan, earlier than heading into the Asia Cup.
They received their opening match in opposition to Oman by 93 runs, scoring a 160 of their allotted 20 overs earlier than bowling out the Gulf facet for simply 67 runs.
India, nevertheless, is the general favorite to win the match. They beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of their earlier match, whom they routed for 57 in 13.1 overs earlier than returning to chase down the goal in 27 balls on Thursday.
