"We cannot take the Hong Kong game lightly" : Babar Azam

[MenInG]

Babar Azam speaking to the press:

"There are no easy games in Asia Cup and we cannot take the Hong Kong game lightly"

"The match against India will be an interesting one"

"Whilst the Pakistan top-order in Zimbabwe did perform well but going back a bit, you will see that the middle-order also has performed their role and in that sense, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali's performances have been good"

"So its not true that the Asia Cup will be a challenge for the middle-order as they may be out of practice; everyone is in good form and hopefully we will do well"

"Virat Kohli is a match-winner and in good form so his absence will be very beneficial for us and we will make use of that"

"We are not worried about any threat from an Indian player but are focussed on the first match against Hong Kong"

"India have a good side with Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni who are very experienced players"

"The dressing room atmosphere has changed a lot since the arrival of Mickey Arthur"

"All the youngsters in the team have gelled together and also have belief in each other'

"Even our seniors behave like our equals in the dressing room which also helps us all"

"Whenever I go into bat, I go in with the intention to bat through the innings and to avail the chance given to me, with the aim to build an innings and help my team"

"The fact that we may play India three times in this tournament is a challenge for us and something for us to enjoy as well"

"Pakistan-India games are watched by a lot of people and we also enjoy it"

"There is no pressure is such games and we just need to play our natural game and to perform as per the game situation"

 

[Abdullah719]

Asia Cup 2018: Venkatesh Prasad backs Hong Kong to stage upsets against India and Pakistan

The Asia Cup 2018 got underway in style in Dubai with Bangladesh winning the Group A opener against Sri Lanka by a comfortable margin of 137 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim scored a stunning 144 under pressure while Tamim Iqbal came out to bat at number eleven with a fractured wrist to headline a stellar win for Bangladesh. It was not a start fans would have wanted as Sri Lanka went down easily getting bundled out for just 124 but Mushfiqur's brilliant knock set the tone for the high octane tournament.

Next up in the Group A opener on Sunday, Pakistan will take on Hong Kong and former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad believes Hong Kong can stage a few upsets against the likes of India and Pakistan. The minnows are placed alongside the two Asian giants and are the least favourites to qualify for the Super Four but Prasad believes they have an ideal mix of talent in the side to stage a few upsets.

“Having seen a shift to T20 format in 2016, the tournament returns to the 50-over format this year and is particularly relevant given the 50-over ICC World Cup in England next year. Thrown in amid the Asian power houses, one team which will look to make a mark is Hong Kong, who are pooled alongside India and Pakistan in Group A,” Prasad wrote in his column for The Times of India (TOI).

The Anshuman Rath-led side joined India and Pakistan in the Group B after beating UAE in the final of the Qualifiers. They haven't had the best of runs in international cricket recently but the players will be looking forward to rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the business. Hong Kong debuted in the Asia Cup in 2004 but have never won a game and have always failed to make it past the group stage. However, Prasad believes Hong Kong have a great mix of pacers and spinners which make them a formidable bowling unit and if they can work on their batting, they can compete against the best of sides.

“Having flexed their muscles in the qualifying tournament, Hong Kong, who will make their third appearance in the event, having featured in the 2004 and 2008 editions, will be eager to cause a few upsets. While they have a good mix of spinners and pacers, batting will be an area where they will have to up their game, especially against quality bowling units from India and Pakistan,” he added.

Hong Kong after opening their campaign against Pakistan on Sunday will lock horns with Rohit Sharma-led India on September 18.

https://www.timesnownews.com/asia-c...tage-upsets-against-india-and-pakistan/285286