If You Keep Virat Kohli Aside, The Indian Team Will Be Reduced To 50%: Imam-ul-Haq

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has said it was his dream to play against India as both the teams gear up to take on each other in the Asia Cup.

Every cricketer born in India or Pakistan dreams of playing in this high-voltage fixture. A good show in this game is more than enough for the player to become an overnight sensation. Who can forget the adulation and fame MS Dhoni received by slamming 148 against the arch-rivals in just his fifth ODI in 2005. Most recently, Imam’s opening partner Fakhar Zaman became an overnight star after scoring a century against India in the Champions Trophy final last year.

And Imam is also harbouring hopes of playing against India, a team which motivated him to start playing cricket.

“It was my dream to play against India. I had thought a lot about it. In fact, I started playing cricket to play against India and do something special, all players think the same,” Imam said while talking to Zainab Abbas on the show Voice of Cricket.

Imam, meanwhile, has made a fine start to his ODI career. The left-handed batsman has amassed 544 runs at an average of 68 in just 9 games including 4 centuries.

He further pointed out India’s over- dependence on their skipper Virat Kohli, saying that without him India look half the side.

“India is a top team and the man who sets standards for them is Virat Kohli. If you keep him aside, the Indian team will be reduced to 50%,” Imam said.

India and Pakistan will take on each other in the upcoming Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals will lock horns on September 19.

Talking about the contest in the Asia Cup, the 22-year-old said:

“It will be fun, it’s gonna be a pressure match, but let’s hope for the best. We want to play positive and aggressive cricket against India.”