Every player on the team dreams of playing against India and performing well: Faheem Ashraf

The Asia Cup 2018 is largely about India vs Pakistan. Not just because they are the two prominent contenders for the title but also because this is their first face-off since the Champions Trophy final in 2017. While the Men in Green are preparing for the first match against Hong Kong, pacer Faheem Ashraf said that they want to do well against India and make it count.

Both the teams are in the same group and Hong Kong is the third team, thus it is assured that unless something absurd happens they will meet at least twice in the tournament. Every time it is an Indo-Pak contest it is a huge moment, not just for the players and the fans but also for the two nations. The kind of rivalry they share on the cricket field and otherwise drives the players to produce their best.

Faheem said that it is the dream of every Pakistani player to take the field against India and to perform. He also admitted that the Indian team is a world-class side and they will have to be at the best to win the contest.

“We are working really hard to try and adapt to local conditions,” said Ashraf while talking to the media in the UAE. “Every player on the team dreams of playing against India and performing well, I hope I can also get this chance. India even without Virat Kohli is a world-class team and we cannot take them lightly. We are putting in our hundred percent, in all departments be it batting, bowling or fielding. Our job is to give our best and then we have every chance of winning.”

Imam’s dream

Earlier, another promising talent in the Pakistani team, opener Imam-ul-Haq had also mentioned that he’d always dreamt of playing against the arch-rivals. In fact, he took up cricket only to get a chance to face their neighbours on the field and produce a special effort that will be remembered for long.

“It was my dream to play against India. I had thought a lot about it, in fact, started playing cricket to play against India and do something special, all players think the same,” Imam said.

“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%,” he specified.

While Pakistan seem to have most things sorted having won the ODI series in Sri Lanka, the Indian team will be without their skipper Virat Kohli. It will be up to the youngsters on both sides to rise to the occasion and take their team through.

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