NEW DELHI: Brimming with confidence after their crushing win over minnows Nepal in their Asia Cup 2023 opener, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said his team is 100 percent ready for much-awaited blockbuster against India. India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 2 in Pallekele.
Babar led from the front with a magnificent 151 and Iftikhar Ahmed produced an unbeaten 109 to power Pakistan to a 238-run win against Nepal in Multan.
"This game was good preparation for the India game because it gave us confidence," Babar, who was named Player of the Match for his 19th one-day hundred, said.
"India-Pakistan will always bring high intensity. We want to give 100% in every match, hope to do that there as well."
Babar, who is the top-ranked ODI batter, showcased his expertise through the impeccable pacing of his innings. Despite an early loss of both openers, Babar and Mohammad Rizwan (44) steadied the innings before Iftikhar joined the partnership.
Babar reached his half-century in 72 balls, then accelerated to achieve a century in 109 deliveries. Following that, he adopted a more aggressive approach reminiscent of T20 cricket, accumulating 51 runs off the subsequent 22 balls he faced.
1/10:Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan crush Nepal
AFP
2/10:Pakistan thrash Nepal
<p>Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed scored hundreds as Pakistan thrashed Nepal by 238 runs in the opening game of the Asia Cup in Multan on Wednesday. </p>AFP
3/10:Babar Azam
<p>Skipper Azam smashed a 131-ball 151 for his 19th ODI hundred while Ahmed scored an unbeaten 109 in 71 balls for his first as Pakistan piled up 342-6 in 50 overs. </p>AFP
4/10:Pakistan bundle out Nepal
<p>Pakistan then bundled out Nepal for 104 in 23.4 overs with leg-spinner Shadab Khan taking 4-27 while the pace duo of Haris Rauf took 2-16 and Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-27. </p>AFP
5/10:Sompal Kami
<p>Only Sompal Kami (28), Aarif Sheikh (26) and Gulsan Jha (13) made it into double figures as Nepal struggled against Pakistan's much-vaunted bowling attack. </p>AFP
6/10:Iftikhar Ahmed
<p>Nepal bowled well to keep Pakistan down to 124-4 in the 28th over but were helpless in the final overs against the onslaught from Azam and Ahmed. </p>AFP
7/10:Match-winning stand
<p>Azam and Ahmed added a robust 214 off 131 balls for the fifth wicket, which took Pakistan to a formidable total. </p>AFP
8/10:Final flourish
<p>Azam cracked 14 boundaries and four sixes while Ahmed hit 11 boundaries and four sixes, helping Pakistan to 129 runs in the last 10 overs including 67 in the final five. </p>AFP
9/10:Fakhar Zaman
<p>Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman for 14 in the sixth over, while Imam-ul-Haq was run out for five to leave Pakistan tottering at 25-2. </p>AFP
10/10:Mohammad Rizwan
<p>Azam added 86 for the third wicket with Mohammad Rizwan (44) before Rizwan was also run out and Agha Salman fell for 5. </p>AFP"When I went in, the ball wasn't coming on properly, so I was trying to build an innings with Rizwan," Babar explained.
"Iftikhar also played a great innings when he came on.
"When he came in, I told him to play his natural game and he was comfortable after hitting two-three boundaries."
