Hasan Ali, the Pakistan bowler, believed Virat Kohli’s absence from the Asia Cup would work in his team’s favour, but remained cautious of the rest of the Indian squad.
Pakistan will take on India on 19 September in the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. It will be the first time the teams are facing each other since Pakistan got the better of their neighbours and arch rivals in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England.
Ali took 3/19 from 6.3 overs in the final and was named Player of the Tournament.
Pakistan will face India at least twice in the Asia Cup, and three times if both reach the final. Hasan believes India will be under more pressure because of their defeat in the Champions Trophy final, and that playing in the UAE will give Pakistan ‘home’ advantage
“Virat Kohli is a very good player. Everybody knows that he is a match-winner. But even if he isn’t there in the squad, India still have a very good team. They have many more players,” he said.
“Yes, there is an advantage for us that the way Virat Kohli can handle pressure, someone else who comes in his place might not be able to.
“We are on top right now. [India] are under pressure from the previous defeat.
