India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup | Naseem Shah didn't make us feel that: Babar Azam on missing Shaheen Afridi
India Today
Naseem Shah, who was playing his first-ever T20I match, gave Pakistan an early breakthrough as he removed KL Rahul for a duck. He nearly ensured to see the back of Virat Kohli, but Fakhar Zaman dropped him at third slip.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam said that the debutant Naseem Shah didn't let the team miss Shaheen Afridi in the Asia Cup match against India.
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a group match at the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday, August 28. The victory, however, was earned after the Pakistan fast bowlers, especially Naseem Shah, troubled the Indian top-order.
Naseem Shah, who was playing his first-ever T20I match, gave Pakistan an early breakthrough as he removed KL Rahul for a duck in the very first over. Naseem nearly ensured to see the back of Virat Kohli, but Fakhar Zaman dropped the former India captain at third slip.
Naseem even brought Pakistan back in match, when he cleaned up Suryakumar Yadav. However, Hardik Pandya maintained his cool to take India home in the last-over thriller.
"Look, fast bowlers are always pumped up and they are always aggressive. The way he (Naseem Shah) started, albeit we missed Shaheen (Shah Afridi) a lot, but he didn't make us feel that...the way he bowled with the new ball and at the death was very good," Babar said in the press conference.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a knee injury which he suffered while fielding during the Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle recently.
When asked about Pakistan's batting, Babar said the lack of partnerships in the middle resulted in the poor outing of the team with the bat. He, however, pointed out and praised the fight shown by the tailenders Shahnawaz Dahani and Harris Rauf.
