Pakistan Sets the Stage: To Bat First Against Nepal in Asia Cup Opener
In a thrilling kick-off to the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has won the toss and made the decision to bat first against Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
High Stakes and Debutant Excitement
Pakistan, the top-ranked ODI team and two-time Asia Cup victors, are facing Nepal for the very first time in this format. Nepal, who earned ODI status in 2018, are making their maiden appearance in the Asia Cup after their triumph in the inaugural ACC Men’s Premier Cup earlier this year.
Captain’s Words and Pitch Insights
Commenting on the pitch conditions, Babar Azam shared, “The pitch looks very dry and shiny. We opted not to name the XI earlier, aiming to instill confidence in our team. Being the top-ranked team carries its own pressure, but we plan to relish the experience and give our best.”
Nepal’s captain, Rohit Paudel, expressed the team’s enthusiasm for their inaugural Asia Cup match, stating, “Everyone in Nepal is genuinely thrilled for this game. The environment here closely resembles Nepal, and the pitch appears to be favorable for batting.”
The Road Ahead: Super Fours and Final
The top two teams from Groups A and B will progress to the Super Fours, where they will compete in three additional matches at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This venue will also host the grand finale on September 17.
The Playing Elevens
Pakistan:
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
- Agha Salman
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
Nepal:
- Kushal Bhurtel
- Aasif Sheikh (wicketkeeper)
- Rohit Paudel (captain)
- Aarif Sheikh
- Kushal Malla
- Dipendra Singh Airee
- Gulsan Jha
- Sompal Kami
- Karan KC
- Sandeep Lamichhane
- Lalit Rajbanshi
The stage is set as Pakistan takes on Nepal in the Asia Cup’s thrilling inaugural match, setting the tone for an action-packed tournament.
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