Asia Cup: Dangerous Pakistan meet confident Bangladesh in Super Four clash today

Pakistan's Naseem Shah (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Nepal's Aasif Sheikh (not pictured) during the Asia Cup 2023 cricket match between Pakistan and Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on August 30, 2023. (AFP)
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  • Pakistan replace Mohammad Nawaz with all-rounder Faheem Ashraf
  • Bangladesh head into the match after beating Afghanistan on Sunday

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s dangerous cricket team, equipped with arguably the most lethal pace attack in the Asia Cup tournament, will take on Bangladesh today, Wednesday, at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The contest will be the first clash of the Asia Cup’s Super Four stage, for which Pakistan qualified after beating Nepal comprehensively by 242 runs in the tournament opener and when the Green Shirts’ second match against India was abandoned due to rain on Saturday.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, qualified for the Super Four stage after trouncing Group B’s Afghanistan by 89 runs in a game where Najmul Hosain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan smashed centuries.

“Pakistan have made one change to its playing XI against Bangladesh tomorrow,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has replaced spin bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz,” the cricket board added.

Pakistan will be relying heavily on their pace attack, spearheaded by left-arm lethal pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.

During the fixture against India, Afridi took four wickets including the prized scalps of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, veteran batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took three wickets each, with the former dominating the Indian batters with his swing and express pace. Pakistan ended up bowling out India for 266 runs before rain played spoilsport.

The match is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time.