Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique is not concerned about facing Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. Shafique in a media interaction was asked if Bumrah can pose a challenge for Pakistan batters. In reply, Shafique said that they have fast bowlers like Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi in their ranks who bowl to them in the nets.
“You face Haris, Naseem, Shaheen in the nets all the time during practice sessions. Do you find it easy when you take on the opposition bowlers then? Particularly if you talk about India... since it looks like Jasprit Bumrah is also coming back for Asia Cup,” Shafique was asked in the press conference.
“Our bowling attack is pretty good, in fact, the best in the world. We face them (Shaheen, Haris, Naseem) in the nets... we face their challenging spells. And that gives us a lot of confidence and helps in our preparation. If we are playing good against them, we are obviously more confident against opponent bowlers,” Shafique said.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce India’s squad for Asia Cup 2023. The three-T20I series against Ireland will work as a litmus test for stand-in skipper Bumrah’s fitness. The fast bowler was out of action after suffering from a stress fracture in the back.
Bumrah's last ODI appearance was against England on July 14 at Lord's. His last international appearance was against Australia in the T20I series in September 2022.
On the other hand, Shafique is yet to make his name in the ODI format after showing promise in the Test format with an average over 50 after 14 Tests. The 23-year-old batter has played just three ODIs so far. He made his ODI debut against the Netherlands last year and got out for a single-digit score. Seven months later, he was given a chance against New Zealand in the home ODI series but scored just 26 runs from two games.
India and Pakistan will go up against each other on September 2 at Pallekle International Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan Asia Cup squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi.
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