Shoaib Malik's experience helps him do well against India, asserts VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman has mentioned that the reason why Shoaib Malik performs well against India is his experience in international cricket. As India is scheduled to play against arch-rivals Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup on September 19, Laxman feels that Shoaib will be a lot of help for his side.
The match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup is scheduled to be played on September 19 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman believes that Shoaib Malik will be able to play well against India in the Asia Cup because of his accumulated experience. The former Pakistani skipper has amassed 7015 runs, including nine hundreds and 41 fifties, from 266 ODIs with an average of 35.07.
“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, Chahal and Kuldeep while Pakistan is evidently dependent on their opener Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam at number 3. 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," Laxman told Star Sports.
"But at the same time when he presses the accelerator, he can play the big shots and he has got an abundance of experience and he is a champion as far as the wide ball is concerned."
The six nations participating in the Asia Cup are divided into two groups. Group A consists of Pakistan, India and Hong Kong, while Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are in Group B. Top two teams from each group will qualify for the super fours and the two best teams from the super fours will proceed to the final.
India will play their first match against Hong Kong on September 18 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium before facing Pakistan the following day. The final of the tournament will be played on September 28.