Pakistani captain Salman Agha has said that his side has been fully prepared to adopt arch rivals India in their upcoming Asia Cup Super Four collision on Sunday.
Pakistan defeated the United Arab Emiraten (VAE) in their last group A match on Wednesday to continue to the Super Fours stage, where they will also play two group B teams in a round Robin format.
Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2013 and they only play each other in Multi-Team Tournaments.
“We are ready, we are ready for every challenge,” Salman told the VAE after their 41-run victory.
“We just want to play a good cricket. If we play a good cricket, as we have played in recent months, I think we will be good against every side.”
Fakhar Zaman made 50, but Pakistan’s front lines disappointed against the modest attack of the VAE, where opener Saim Ayub fell for his third consecutive duck in the tournament.
Salman acknowledged that they had to hit better.
“We have done the job, but we still have to improve our batting in the middle order,” Salman said.
“That has been a concern and something we have to work on.”
India had sailed a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan last weekend in the first cricket match between the parties since a four-day military conflict between the nuclear arming neighbors in May.
There was no shaking hands between the captains at the pitch or among the players at the end.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called for competition referee Andy Pycroft’s immediate removal for a violation of the Code of Conduct and considered withdrawing from the tournament before he continued the game on Wednesday after the referee had apologized.
Naqvi, flanked by former presidents Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, told reporters in Gaddafi Stadium that the Zimbabwe -Referee Andy Pycroft, which was formally established in Zimbabwe, had formally apologized to the national captain Salman Ali Agha, the coach and the worries of the side of the side.
According to the PCB, Pycroft described the incident due to miscommunication. The ICC has shown that the willingness to conduct a formal investigation into the alleged violation of the code of conduct.
India and Pakistan could meet at the tournament for the third time if they both reach the final of 28 September.
