'Perform like Hardik Pandya': Kamran Akmal hits out at Pakistan player ahead of Asia Cup

The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) on Wednesday, August 9 announced Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. The team will be led by Babar Azam whereas leg spinner Shadab Khan has been chosen as his deputy. The selection committee led by former cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq has also shown his faith in all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, whose form in recent days has been a major question. 

3 things you need to know 

• The Asia Cup 2023 will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka under a 'hybrid' model 
• A total of four matches will be played in Pakistan whereas the remaining nine matches will take place in Sri Lanka 
• Lahore, Multan, Colombo, and Pallekele are among the venues of the Asia Cup 2023

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Kamran Akmal gives a reality check to Faheem Ashraf 

Former Pakistan cricket team wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, while speaking on his YouTube channel spoke about Pakistani all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. Akmal believes that this time he has to establish himself as a first-choice all-rounder. Kamran has also urged Ashraf to perform like Indian all-rounder and T20I skipper Hardik Pandya. The senior Akmal said: 

The Indian white-ball team is never complete without Hardik Pandya. He is there every time an Indian team is announced in white-ball cricket. You look at his record, he has won matches for his team with both, bat and ball. It is time Faheem Ashraf also starts to perform like him. 

It has been so long now, he has to show some maturity. I want Faheem Ashraf to be a surety in Pakistan's white-ball team whenever it's announced. He has to develop himself as all-rounder. He has to show that responsibility. 

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Faheem Ashraf's poor form in international cricket 

With just less than two months left in the ODI World Cup 2023, all the teams have started to prepare for the major ICC event,. Faheem Ashraf's inclusion in the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup 2023 has come up as a surprise. Ashraf has only played one ODI in 2021 and only managed to pick up one wicket in the five T20Is he played against New Zealand in April 2023. 

Clash of Asian giants before the ODI World Cup

The Asia Cup 2023 will begin from August 30, 2023, wherein Pakistan will take on Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium in the opening match. On the other hand, the most awaited, India vs Pakistan clash will take place on September 2, 2023, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The multination Asian tournament will be a golden opportunity for the Rohit Sharma-led Indian side to test their resources ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023.