Pakistan is going to play their important game versus Bangladesh tomorrow as whoever wins will have a clear and better chance to play the final of the ongoing season of the Asia Cup.
After losing their game versus India, Pakistan clawed back in style and won a must-win game against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Choosing to bowl first, Pakistan ran through the top-order of Sri Lanka and Shaheen Shah Afridi was upfront in this regard as he took three wickets for 28 runs in 4 overs removing the dangerous batters like Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis in the powerplay.
Talking to the press conference ahead of the Bangladesh clash, Shaheen brushed aside the claims of Pakistan bowlers “showing extra aggression” versus India in Sunday’s clash.
Moreover, the bowler said the side is ready to face any team right now and will give it all in the upcoming matches.
“It’s not that we’re not winning,” Afridi said. “We’ve won most of our last dozen games. It’s true we haven’t won against higher-ranked teams, but most of our recent games haven’t been against them. We were here to win the tri-nation series, and we won that. We are here to win the Asia Cup, and that’s all we’re focused on now.”
When asked that the Pakistani pacers have been struggling in T20i cricket in recent years, Afridi said it is not what he thinks.
“I don’t think our fast bowlers are struggling, but in T20 cricket on good wickets, batters have the license to go after the quick bowlers. We’ve been trying to vary our bowling more, and that’s something I’m working on. We were getting swings. Early on, I got breakthroughs, removing two of their main players. That’s the kind of attacking cricket we want to play – get your main bowlers on and finish the game quickly.
Talking about Bangladesh clash, Afridi heaped praise on Bangladesh side and said the side will have to perform on fleek to win the clash.
“Bangladesh has been playing good cricket of late,” he said of the only team to have denied Pakistan a T20I series win in the last four months. “Whenever you play such teams, you should try to strike first. You shouldn’t give them an opportunity. We’ll have to perform well in all three departments if we are to get past them.”
When questioned about SuryaKumar Yadav’s comments on downplaying Pakistan and India’s “rivalry” anymore, Shaheen chose not to hit back through words. Instead, he calmly shifted the focus on his team’s objectives.
“That’s his opinion; let him say what he wants. Neither they nor we are in the final. We’ll see how things shape up for the final. We’re just here to win the Asia Cup, and we’ll give our all for that.”
Last but not the least, when asked about his own performance, Afridi said he is ready to give it all for Pakistan, even ready to sacrifice his life.
