'We have an advantage over India’- Babar Azam reveals reasons behind bold claim ahead of Super Four game

Babar Azam (Source-Twitter)

Recently the captain of the Pakistan cricket team Babar Azam, made a bold claim ahead of their face-off against India in Sri Lanka. He stated that his team has an advantage over India due to various factors.

Babar Azam believes that his team would have the advantage over India in the forthcoming Asia Cup Super 4 match in Colombo due to their experience with the local conditions. Many Pakistani players have participated extensively in Sri Lanka, including in the bilateral ODIs against Afghanistan, the Lanka Premier League, and the July Test series. This should have given them good exposure with the local conditions.

However, due to weather, India's participation in both of its Asia Cup games in Sri Lanka was hampered. Only one innings was possible in India's opening game against Pakistan due to weather, which also prevented further play in Pallekele. India scored 266. They were given a revised target in 23 overs at the same location due to rain, and they successfully chased it down with all of their wickets intact.

Babar Azam says travelling is not a problem for team

“We have been playing here in Sri Lanka for the past two months or so. We have played Tests, we played a series against Afghanistan and then the LPL. So, it can be said that we have an advantage. Given the continuous cricket we are playing both in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, you can say that we hold an edge (over India)," said Babar in the pre-match press conference.

Prior to traveling to Sri Lanka, the next day for their final group match against India, Pakistan played their Asia Cup 2023 opener in Multan. Before departing for Sri Lanka, Babar Azam's team travelled back to Pakistan, this time to Lahore, to compete in their Super 4 match against Bangladesh. The players' fatigue from the round-trip jet journey is inevitable, but Babar thinks it can't be used as an excuse because everyone had access to the schedule well in advance. “We always knew the schedule and how much we have to travel. So, it's become important how we look after our players. We have planned everything well,” he said.