Asia Cup 2018: Our Focus Is Not Just India: Hasan Ali

Ahead of the much-anticipated showdown with India in the upcoming Asia Cup, Hasan Ali has said Pakistan are not only focusing on beating their arch-rivals.

Winning the India-Pakistan contest is paramount for any player irrespective of the side. A good performance in this fixture is more than enough to make an overnight sensation. The importance of this celebrated fixture has increased manifold in recent times due to the poor bilateral relations between the two neighbours.

The arch-rivals had not played a full bilateral Test series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20s in India in December 2012, but otherwise, both have faced each other only in the ICC organised events or the Asia Cup. They last played against each other in the last year’s Champions Trophy. Pakistan had thrashed India to win the title in England. Now the cricketing world is looking forward to yet another cracking game between the two countries.

Not surprisingly both the teams will be keen to win the game when they take on each other in the Asia Cup. However, Hasan Ali has insisted his team is not only focusing on the game but is looking forward to doing well in the tournament.

“Our focus not just on India,” Ali said while talking to the media on Thursday. “There are many fixtures in the tournament.”

“This does not mean that we beat India but lose the other matches,” he added.

Hasan Ali, one of Pakistan’s most impressive performers in the Champions Trophy last year, also said that he will put in efforts to dismiss every batsman he comes against in the multi-nation tournament.

With Virat Kohli not playing, Pakistan would find it a bit easier to deal against the Men in Blue. However, Ali said the absence of the India skipper does not make the team weak. He also said that there is no comparison between him and Virat Kohli.

“He [Kohli] is a legend and he is our senior. The whole Indian side is a strong unit,” he said.

The Asia Cup gets underway on September 15. Defending champions India will take on Pakistan on September 19.