Pakistan pacer Usman Khan eyes a five-wicket haul against India

Pakistan left-arm seamer Usman Khan is looking to bag a five-wicket haul when his team clashes against arch-rivals India. The two sides are pooled together in Group A along with Hong Kong and will take on each other on September 19 in Dubai. Usman was already impressive in Pakistan’s victory over Hong Kong on Sunday. The one-sided game saw Hong Kong bowled out for just 116, with Usman finishing with figures of 3 for 19.

He bowled a fiery spell up front, but his three wickets came towards the back of the first innings. Usman was eventually adjudged man of the match for his match-winning spell. However, his main focus remains on the much-awaited clash against India. This will be the first time the two teams will face each other since Pakistan routed India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy, and Usman wants to make his mark with a five-for.

“Whoever performs in India-Pakistan match, his career goes to a new level. I took three wickets today, hope to take five wickets against India,” Usman said after his brilliant effort with the ball against Hong Kong. “India is the number one team. They have very good players. It’s a big match. We prepared 100 percent. We had a long training camp in Lahore. I saw India train, they are preparing well also,” he added.

Playing in UAE an advantage for Pakistan

Pakistan is favourites to win this edition of the Asia Cup since they are playing in the UAE – their adopted home for several years now. Usman maintained that playing in the UAE will give them the upper hand over India. “Playing in the UAE is an advantage over India. We are used to the pitches and the ground. It’s a home ground for us,” the 24-year-old said.

However, Usman also said that the wicket that has been prepared in Dubai is rather different and that taking wickets will be a tough ask. “Today’s wicket was very slow. I was trying to bowl with pace. I was going for wickets with the new ball. In the second spell, the pitch was such that ball deteriorated and I was getting reverse swing and thus got wickets. This looks like such an old pitch. Very slow. Bowling is difficult on this. If you hit the length hard, you can get wickets,” he added.

India is without their captain and star batsman Virat Kohli. Opener Rohit Sharma has been handed the captaincy for the tournament.

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