Asia Cup: Expect my fast bowlers to utilise first six overs, says Shahid Afridi

Supremely confident of his pace attack, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi today said his fast bowlers are capable of sending the Indian top-order packing in the first six overs itself when the two teams lock horns in the Asia Cup T20 group league match, here tomorrow.

“Pace bowlers are the main form of attack in these conditions. We have got four pacers and they are just cricketers who are considered to be wicket-taking. Our fast bowlers will try to utilise the opening six overs by removing their batsmen as that is considered to be their strength,” Afridi said at the pre-match press conference.

Afridi though acknowledged that Indian batsmen do play spinners very well. In the spin department, Afridi will be supported by left-arm spinner Muhammad Nawaz, who has done well in the recently concluded PSL.

“Indian batsmen usually play spinners very well and they have in form players in their squad as they have come here playing some good cricket. I think apart from me there is Mohammad Nawaz who performed really well in the domestic cricket as well as in the PSL. The fast bowlers are also in good shape whether it is Amir, Wahab or Irfan.

“I know their batting is strong but we also have a formidable bowling attack. I hope the result will be good for us,” said Afridi.

The skipper admitted that an Indo-Pak match is always a battle between his bowlers and Dhoni’s batsmen.

“It has always been the case. They will try to score heavily and we also have strength in our batting. We just hope we don’t repeat our mistakes (in bowling) and stick to basics.”

Afridi’s batting has gone from being ‘Boom Boom’ to ‘Bust’ in recent years and he feels that he is more of a bowler now.

“My main strength is my bowling but where I bat I can also contribute for the team and that is important. Whether it is 20 or 30 runs but it is important,” he said.

There were talks about his decision to re-think on retiring after World T20 but Afridi dodged the issue.

“I think for me the Asia Cup and the World Cup is more important than my retirement and I am focusing on that at the moment.”

A local journalist asked whether this is his last tournament as a professional cricketer on Bangladeshi soil, Afridi replied in jest: “You don’t want to see me in Bangladesh Premier League?”