‘Take pace off ball against Fakhar Zaman’, Mike Hussey advises Indian bowlers for Asia Cup derby

Soon after the schedule of Asia Cup 2018 to be played in the United Arab Emirates was unveiled, former Australian batsman came up with his tips for the Indian bowlers on how to tackle Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman who is in the pink of his batting form.

Forty-three-year-old Hussey, who has played 79 Tests and 185 ODIs for Australia, advised India’s bowlers to take pace off the ball while delivering to Zaman who recently smashed an ODI double ton against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. India also had their share of experience of tackling Zaman in the final of the Champions Trophy in England last year in which the left-hander hit a ton – his first in international cricket. India lost that match by 180 runs.

‘Nice and a tight lenght and building pressure will work’

“So plans for India against Fakhar Zaman is got to be nice, tight line and length, be very disinclined and try and maintain that pressure, try and build up some pressure on him with some dot balls and make him go for the big shots earlier than what he wants to do,” Hussey told PTI. “I think a change of pace could work against him because he goes hard at the ball, taking the pace off it (the ball) could be advantageous,” he added.

India will be playing Pakistan in Asia Cup on September 19 and if nothing miraculous happens, will lock horns with the arch-rivals again on September 23, thanks to a unique itinerary.

Zaman, who hit 500-plus runs in the five-match series against Zimbabwe and was adjudged man of the series, became only the second left-handed batsman and the sixth overall to slam a double hundred in the 50-over format. He also became the quickest to score 1,000 ODI runs, bettering Sir Vivian Richards’s record by three innings (18 over 21) and also put up the highest opening partnership (304) in ODIs with Imam-ul-Haq.

Hussey also remembered Zaman’s heroics against India in England last year. “…who could forget his century in the ICC Champions Trophy (final) against India, not too long ago,” he said.

The former Australian cricketer predicted that both India and Pakistan will be favorites in the six-nation tournament but warned that Afghanistan could produce a surprise.

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