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Pakistan captain Babar Azam careworn his crew was targeted on Wednesday’s Asia Cup opening recreation in opposition to Nepal moderately than in opposition to arch-rivals India, saying no crew will be taken flippantly.

The six-nation Asia Cup — which Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosting after India refused to tour Pakistan over political stress — opens in Multan with three different matches in Lahore.

India will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, the place 9 matches — together with the September 17 remaining — will probably be staged.

Azam regretted the snub over Pakistan’s internet hosting.

“In my opinion, it would have been great if the whole Asia Cup was held in Pakistan,” he mentioned on Tuesday. “But unfortunately, it has not happened, so we have to be ready for whatever schedule is decided.”

Pakistan will fly to Sri Lanka to play India in Pallekele on September 2 earlier than taking part in a Super Four match in Lahore after which returning to Sri Lanka for the remaining matches.

Barring any upsets, Pakistan may even play India in Colombo on September 10.

“As professionals, we have to be ready. There is some travelling and back-to-back matches, but we are excited,” mentioned Azam, who additionally performed down the hype over the India clashes.

“Pakistan and India matches are always of high intensity and we will try to play the best cricket on that day, but at the moment we are focused on Nepal and will not take them lightly.

“It’s the primary match and is necessary,” he added.

India, Pakistan and Nepal are in Group A while defending champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan form Group B.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stages.

Pakistan are on a high, having whitewashed Afghanistan 3-0 in Sri Lanka last week to rise to the top of the one-day international rankings.

Nepal qualified for the Asia Cup after winning the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup in April at home, beating Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

“We are taking part in within the Asia Cup for the primary time and its an enormous event,” said captain Rohit Paudel. “We wish to give a aggressive recreation to Pakistan and India as nicely.

“We deserved to be here. We have been playing for more than two decades and this is the highest opportunity for Nepal and a great learning experience against a world-class team.”

Nepal will hope their high-quality spinner Sandeep Lamichhane trigger some issues for Pakistan batting which incorporates world’s top-ranked batter Azam, quantity three Imam-ul-Haq and quantity 5 Fakhar Zaman.

Their inexperienced batting will probably be examined by world’s prime tempo trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.