Asia Cup 2018: Shoaib Malik Will Be Key Against India - VVS Laxman

According to former Team India cricketer VVS Laxman, Pakistan senior most batsman Shoaib Malik will be the key for his side against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup 2018. India and their arch-rivals are in the same group. The tournament will get underway from September 15 onwards in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Moreover, the six nations will battle it out to stamp their authority in Asia’s celebrated competition.

“Yeah, the reason he does well against India is his experience. He is a good player of spin bowling because in the middle invariably India will look to attack with the spinners. And they’ve got two quality risk spinners now in, [Yuzvendra] Chahal and Kuldeep [Yadav] while Pakistan is dependent on their opener Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam at number three,” Star Sports quoted Laxman as saying.

Shoaib Malik to play a vital role in Asia Cup 2018 against India: VVS Laxman

“Shoaib Malik is someone who would look to play the anchor role because he has got ability to rotate the strike, play down the ground, taking easy singles,” he said.

The former elegant cricketer Laxman said Malik’s experience will come handy as he has got experience. He praised the Pakistan batter and noted that when it comes to white-ball cricket, Malik is a champion player.

“But at the same time when he presses the accelerator. He can play the big shots. And he has got an abundance of experience. He [Malik] is a champion as far as the white-ball is concerned,” he added.