An off-colour Virat Kohli is still Virat Kohli, believes Pakistan captain Babar Azam.

“Nothing is easy in life. There are challenges everywhere. It is up to you how you achieve things in life and how you overcome the challenges you face. Virat is still one of the best batters in world cricket. How you compete against a player like him, and that too in different conditions, is very important,” Babar said on the eve of the blockbuster Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan.

“Every cricketer, if you ask me, faces ups and downs in their career. It’s not that there is only success and no failures. You really need a strong mindset to handle things in life that often do not go in your favour,” Babar said.

Present focus

Pakistan had thrashed India in last year’s T20 World Cup. But Babar is cautious not to “talk big” ahead of the match.

“Honestly, that game is a thing of past now. It won’t have an impact on Sunday’s match. I am completely focused on tomorrow’s game. The teams are kind of different, the conditions are different. Although as a side we are confident, we won’t talk big ahead of the game. We wish to prove it on the field. As a captain, I am ready to give my 100 per cent,” he said.

“Every cricket lover around the world waits for this clash. We, as cricketers, also enjoy taking part in it. Both the teams try their best to keep their respective fans happy.”

Missing Shaheen

Babar admitted that the absence of star left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi has slightly changed the dynamics of Sunday’s match.

“Of course. Had Shaheen played the game against India, things could have been in our favour. But he is out now. Having said that, our other fast bowlers are quite good and ready to deliver for the side,’ Babar said.

India too will be without Jasprit Bumrah. But Babar will not be taking the Indian attack lightly.

“Not any particular bowler, but I am taking every bowler quite seriously. I always do that as a batsman, irrespective of who I face. Every team has their top bowlers, and as a batsman, you always have to ready yourself to face them,” Babar said.

Written with inputs from PTI

Horror start by Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup campaign got off to a horrible start after Afghanistan won the toss and put them in to bat at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

Courtesy young left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/11), who made use of a little bit of grass on the wicket, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 105 in 19.4 overs.

Thereafter, openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (40) and Hazratullah Zazai (37 not out) had fun out in the middle as Afghanistan reached home in just 10.1 overs, winning by eight wickets.

Wobbling at 5 for 3 after two overs, Sri Lanka just couldn’t recover and it was only due to the last-wicket partnership of 30 between Chamika Karunaratne (31) and Dilshan Madushanka that they crossed 100.

Captain Mohammad Nabi and off-spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman took two wickets each for Afghanistan.