Ravichandran Ashwin, the accomplished Indian cricketer, has pinpointed Pakistan as potent contenders and “favorites” alongside India for the impending Asia Cup 2023. While Sri Lanka holds the T20 championship title from the previous edition, the spotlight remains on India and Pakistan as frontrunners for the upcoming tournament.

In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin elucidated that Pakistan’s prospects hinge heavily on the consistent performances of their captain, Babar Azam, and wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan, in the upcoming months. These players’ form could potentially pose formidable challenges for opponents not only in the Asia Cup but also in the ODI World Cup.

“If Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan maintain their consistent performances with the bat in the middle order, Pakistan will emerge as a formidable force in both the Asia Cup and the World Cup. Their strength will be hard to surpass. Pakistan truly stands out as an exceptional side,” Ashwin remarked.

Ashwin delved into the reasons underpinning Pakistan’s status as favorites this year, alongside the Indian team.

“Their distinct advantage lies in the depth of their squad. Historically, Pakistan has consistently produced exceptional cricketers. Their strong tradition in tape ball cricket has nurtured a constant stream of fast bowlers. Their batting prowess was particularly evident in the late 90s and 2000s. However, their participation in various leagues has significantly contributed to their resurgence over the past 5-6 years. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has played a pivotal role. They have also made substantial inroads into tournaments like the Big Bash League (BBL), with a considerable presence of Pakistan players in recent drafts,” he added.