'They are among the best' - Babar Azam expresses pride in world-class fast bowlers ahead of India vs Pakistan clash

Babar Azam, Pakistan captain, was full of praise for the pace bowlers in the team who are contributing to his side's dominance in the 2023 Asia Cup. Pakistan have been strengthened by the pace-bowling trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, particularly in the ongoing competition.

Ahead of the much-awaited Super Four stage clash against arch-rivals India, Babar stated that the pacers helped Pakistan thrive in tournaments and matches. He added that he has complete faith in them, and they, in turn, believe in themselves.

"I feel very proud of the fast bowlers I have. They're among the best, and help us dominate. Tournaments and matches are won by fast bowlers, and I fully believe in them. There's no secret; they just believe in themselves and cover for each other.” the 28-year-old was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

He went on to say that the team is experimenting with various combinations to discover which one is best for them. Pakistan are still trying to figure out how they should approach the middle overs, but they are finishing and starting exceptionally well with the backing of the fast bowlers, according to the No. 1 ODI batter.

"We're testing out different combinations to see what works for us. We haven't quite worked out exactly how to best approach the middle overs, but we're finishing and starting very well thanks to our fast bowlers. It's a team effort. As a team, we try and get the best out of our players,” he added.

Babar dismissed any concerns about weariness ahead of the high-pressure clash, despite the fact that Pakistan had traveled from Kandy to Lahore and again to Colombo in the previous week while India remained in Sri Lanka. 

"We have spent two-and-a-half months in Sri Lanka, including the Test series, LPL, Afghanistan series, and now the Asia Cup. So you could say we have a slight edge over India because of that,” he concluded.