PAK vs BAN: Star All-rounder Dropped As Pakistan Announce Playing XI For Asia Cup 2023 Match vs Bangladesh

On Tuesday, September 5, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced the Pakistan National Cricket Team playing XI for the Super 4 stage clash of the Asia Cup 2023 against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team.

The first match of the Super 4 stage of Asia Cup 2023 will be played between Babar Azam-led side and Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh National Cricket Team at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on September 06.

Pakistan began their Asia Cup campaign on a confident note as they registered a dominant win in their tournament-opening clash. The Babar Azam & Co. beat the Nepal National Cricket Team by 238 runs in the Asia Cup opener at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed smashed sensational centuries in the match. Also, all five Pakistan bowlers – Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan – were among the wickets.

In their second game against the India National Cricket Team, the pace trio of Pakistan, which consists of – Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah – shared all 10 wickets between them. However, the Men In Green were unable to begin their chase of 267 as the rain washed out the game.

Pakistan Announce Playing XI For Bangladesh Clash

The Men In Green have made one change to their playing XI for the match against Bangladesh. They have included pace-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf in the playing XI in place of spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.

Pakistan’s Playing XI For Bangladesh Clash: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Shadab Khan(vc), Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Our playing XI for the Super 4 match against Bangladesh ???#AsiaCup2023 | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/kEfGMsvsgr

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 5, 2023

After the match against India, legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar had criticized Babar Azam’s captaincy. He said that Pakistan would have restricted India under 200 had Babar been more aggressive.

“When you have four early wickets, you shouldn’t let them play out the innings. Pakistan should have bowled them out by the 40th over given the start they got. India’s morale would have fallen, they could have departed for 170-200,” he said.

“A small mistake from Babar I feel,” he added. “15-17 overs by spinners in that situation, which I didn’t think was right. Attack should always be on. You need wickets, you’re not defending in that situation.”