Asia Cup 2023: Five Pakistan players including a Sialkot youngster who will be biggest threat for India

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Pakistan have named a solid 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023 which will be played from August 17 to September. Apart from Faheem Ashraf, who has been recalled in the ODI squad for the first time after 2021, there are no major surprises in the Babar Azam-led squad.

Pakistan will kick off their campaign against Nepal in Multan. However, the first real test for them would be their second match against arch-rivals India on September 2 in Pallekele.

Wins against each other in the Asia Cup 2023 are going to give both the sides a major boost when they lock horns against each in the World Cup 2023 on October 14 in Ahmedabad. India and Pakistan are almost certain of playing two matches (September 2 and 10) against each other. In case they qualify for the mega final, they will meet for the third time on September 17.

India would need to be wary of the following five Pakistan players when they take the field against the Men in Green in Asia Cup 2023. They are expected to come across as the biggest threats for India.

Babar Azam: Without a shadow of doubt, the Pakistan captain would once again come across as the biggest threat for the Indians. India needs to make some special plans for Babar, who is playing in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023, after the completion of the 2-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Having spent almost a month in the island nation already, the number one ranked ODI batter is used to the conditions. He recently smashed a hundred in the LPL 2023. He has played five ODI matches against India till date and scored 158 runs at an average of 31.60 and a strike rate of 75.96. A fully-prepared Babar Azam would be raring to go big against India this time.

Fakhar Zaman: The 33-year-old opener is also plying his trade in the LPL 2023. Although, the southpaw is yet to hit a fifty in the competition but India would not take him lightly as he always find a way to score against them.

His 114-run knock in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy is still fresh in the minds of the fans. The third-ranked ODI batter in the world has played four ODI matches against India and scored 207 runs at an average of 51.75 and a strike rate of 88.46.

Naseem Shah: If India have a 23-year-old batting sensation Shubman Gill in their squad, Pakistan have 20-year-old quick Naseem Shah. The pacer has taken world cricket by storm. He is undoubtedly one of the next generation stars. After an exceptional show in the Test series against Sri Lanka, Naseem has now set the LPL 2023 on fire.

On slow and spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka, Naseem is the leading wicket-taker among pacer and third on the overall list. He has picked eight wickets in five matches at an average of 16 and an economy rate of 6.91.

Usma Mir: The 27-year-old leg-spinner has played just six ODI matches but can emerge as the trump card for Pakistan against India and in the Asia Cup 2023 in general. The six ODI games has seen him pick 10 wickets at an economy rate of 5.29. He hasn't played against India and that could work in his favour.

Mir is currently part of the Manchester Originals squad in the men's Hundred but he is expected to wreak havoc in Asia Cup 2023. The Indian middle-order looks unsettled and Usma Mir will aim to break through it to give his team an edge.

Imam-ul-Haq: There is a feeling that the Pakistan opener would have a memorable Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023 season. Ranked fourth in the list of ODI batters, the left-hand batter has scored 2719 runs in 59 matches at an average of 51.30. He averages 6.33 from three matches against India but his average in Asia is a whopping 54.79. He last played an ODI match against India in 2019 in Manchester. Imam is a much more mature and experienced batter now.