PAK vs SL: Legendary Leg Spinner Anil Kumble Terms Sri Lanka As Favorites In Virtual Semi-Final Against Pakistan

Former Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble believes that pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Shah’s absence will hurt Pakistan in the last Super Four match of the Asia Cup in 2023. Anil Kumble highlighted that Sri Lanka has a quality bowling attack on spin-friendly surfaces.

Naseem Shah has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023 after sustaining a shoulder injury during the Super Four match against India. Haris Rauf complained of ‘discomfort in his right flank’ after bowling 5 overs and did not come to bowl on the reserve day of the match.

Naseem Shah Has Been Brilliant With The New Ball – Anil Kumble

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Anil Kumble termed Sri Lanka favourites to win the virtual semi-final clash, considering the pitch conditions in the last few games at the same venue.

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“Naseem Shah has been brilliant with the new ball and Haris Rauf in the middle and towards the end. So, if both of them don’t play against Sri Lanka, which is a virtual semi-final, then certainly it advantages Sri Lanka,” Kumble told ESPNCricinfo.

“If the wicket was anywhere close to Sri Lanka-Bangladesh or India-Sri Lanka games, then it literally negates the faster bowlers other than Shaheen Shah Afridi. I feel it’s Sri Lanka advantage with the kind of spin attack that they have,” he added.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named Zaman Khan as the replacement for Naseem Shah. However, the board hasn’t made any official confirmation about Haris being ruled out of the tournament.

They’ll Have To Really Bat Well – Anil Kumble

The former Team India head coach emphasized the importance of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan scoring runs in the match to help the team finish the match on a winning note.

“Pakistan will have to play really well. They’ll have to score in case they do get to bat first. They’ll have to really bat well. Babar Azam scored 100 in the first game [of the Asia Cup 2023] but after that he hasn’t been really the same. Rizwan hasn’t scored at all so Pakistan will be hoping that their top order will do what the Indian top order did against them.”

Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Haris, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Zaman Khan

Also read: IND vs PAK: Anil Kumble Speaks On Rohit Sharma-Shubman Gill’s Partnership vs Pakistan, Says ‘In The Previous Match Against Pakistan, The Openers Were…’