Former Indian cricketer and esteemed batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, sheds light on the comparable strengths of India's fast-bowling unit vis-à-vis the famed Pakistani pace battery. As the cricketing world gears up for the highly-anticipated Super-4 stage match of the Asia Cup 2023 between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, all eyes are set on the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In a recent interaction with Star Sports, Bangar confidently stated that the prowess of India's fast bowlers stands on par with that of Pakistan's. To substantiate, he pointed out the exceptional performance of Pakistan's pace trio in the current Asia Cup: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, who have collectively bagged 23 wickets.
However, Bangar emphasized the challenge Pakistan would have faced while chasing India's formidable target of 267 during their group-stage encounter. The prowess of Pakistan's pacers was evident when they bundled out the Indian side for 266, showcasing a phenomenal all-wicket haul. Yet, the elements had other plans; the much-talked-about clash had to be curtailed due to rain, leading to a no-result.
Pakistan's momentum in the tournament is worth noting. With two decisive victories in their pocket, they appear in prime form. India's situation is slightly different. They've had a restricted game exposure, having batted one and a half matches and bowled in only one.
On September 10, the stage is set in Colombo. The upcoming clash holds immense significance. Apart from the immediate goal of clinching the Asia Cup 2023, it's also a precursor and momentum builder for the teams moving into the grand ODI World Cup 2023.
In summary:
Sanjay Bangar underscores the equivalency in strength of India's fast bowlers to Pakistan's stellar pace trio.
Both teams' recent performances have set the stage for a thrilling encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
With an eye on the ODI World Cup 2023, the Asia Cup showdown between the two cricketing giants will be more than just a game.
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