Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah show what's in store for India at Asia Cup and World Cup 2023

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Pace, bounce and swing on a dead Sri Lanka surface displayed by Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah was nothing but magic of highest order in the first ODI against Afghanistan on Tuesday.

After Pakistan opted to bat first and lost the plot against Afghanistan spinners, one started to have some serious doubts over the type of campaign Pakistan will have in the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup 2023. The Men in Green were bundled out for 201 as nine of their batters fell to spinners.

The score could have been less if not for the 34-run partnership between Shadad Khan and Naseem Shah for the ninth wicket. However, the tables were soon turned. Pakistan made a statement quite loud and clear.

Pakistan are not entering the Asia Cup and World Cup thinking to win against them with their batting prowess on subcontinent wickets. They are not even relying on their not-so-experienced spin unit. They have prepared for the unthinkable.

The Pakistan team have made it clear that they are going to flaunt what they are famous for. The side has never been short of pace bowlers who can breath fire on the slowest of surfaces. While other teams are figuring out their spin combinations, Pakistan are geared up with their three pacers.

In the first ODI in Hambantota, Afghanistan spinners picked nine out of 10 Pakistan wickets. Their pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi picked one wicket for 51 runs in eight overs.

In complete contrast, Pakistan spinner Usama Mir leaked 18 runs in three overs without taking any wicket. Shadab Khan bowled a maiden over and picked the only wicket by a Pakistan spinner in the match. Pakistan pacer picked all the remaining wickets and bundled out the opposition for 59.

There was nothing slow at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium during the second innings. Good length deliveries were reaching the chest height of the batters and cutting them into two halves. The ball was making just a slight movement after landing on the surface but proving enough to rattle the batters because of its pace. Off-stumps were being cleaned, edges were being generated, and the quick short balls were forcing the batters to rush into their unsuccessful pull shots.

What was witnessed in a humid Sri Lankan summer was very unusual. Pakistan's raw pace was the answer to Afghanistan's spin in conditions not at all friendly for the fast bowlers.

Pakistan pacers channeled the inner Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar in them to show that the nature of a particular surface bothers ordinary bowlers but they are the extraordinary ones.

India face Pakistan in their first match of the Asia Cup 2023 on September 2. KL Rahul is still not free, while Shreyas Iyer is returning from injury. Suryakumar Yadav's ODI numbers and confidence are dwindling. Shubman Gill is comparatively new and facing the opening bursts from Shaheen, Haris and Naseem would be a different ball game. The onus will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and they are bound to feel the heat knowing the unsettled nature of the batting group.

However good Indian units look on paper, they will be put to some serious Test against the Pakistanis in the next two months. The three-pronged pace attack of Pakistan has a high chance of hurting India.