Pakistan's Alam Stresses Need to Neutralize Kohli, Bumrah in India Clash

Pakistan's all-rounder Fawad Alam has highlighted the significance of neutralizing the impact of Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in their upcoming high-stakes T20 World Cup encounter on Sunday. A victory against their arch-rivals is crucial for Babar Azam's team to regain momentum in the tournament.

The contrasting starts to the competition for the two sides have set the stage for an intriguing clash. India commenced their campaign with a commanding eight-wicket triumph over Ireland, while Pakistan suffered a stunning defeat against co-hosts USA, with the match being decided in a dramatic Super Over.

Alam, who has represented Pakistan in 19 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 24 T20Is, emphasized the need for left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir to deliver a match-turning performance against India, similar to his burst against them in the Champions Trophy final 2017. He also expressed confidence in captain Babar Azam, who has a decent record against India.

Despite Amir's ordinary Super Over against the USA, Alam warned against writing him off, stating that he remains Pakistan's best and most experienced bowler. However, Alam acknowledged that losing to the USA was unacceptable and that Pakistan would feel pressure against India.

Alam also expressed concerns about Pakistan's lack of good spin options, particularly with Imad Wasim's injury and Shadab Khan's poor form. He noted that India's bowling attack, featuring Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav, poses a significant threat.

The left-arm spinner also criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not inspecting the drop-in pitch in New York well in advance of the tournament. He questioned why games were not hosted in Dallas or Florida, where the wickets were better prepared.

Tags: #T20WorldCup, #Pakistan, #India, #ViratKohli, #JaspritBumrah