Sarfraz Ahmed: Win against India will give required momentum

Pakistan is set to face India on September 19, in its second game in the group stage.

Pakistan captain Sarfrazz Ahmed is confident Pakistan's chances if it gets a win against India.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed reckons the group match against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup will set the tone for his side for the remainder of the tournament.

Pakistan is set to play India on September 19, after its Asia Cup campaign opener against Hong Kong in Dubai on September 16.

“Our preparations are very good. We will try to use the four days we get in the UAE and prepare well. Every match we play against India is important. The match against India will be our first big match and we will try to gain the momentum. We will try to be fully prepared against India,” the Pakistan captain said.

Sarfraz reasserted the importance of a victory against India and the momentum it will set. "I have already said momentum is very important for big events and here also momentum would be the key. The team has high hopes and the morale is also very good. So we will try to gain the momentum from the first match and carry that till the end,” he said.

Pakistan has played most of its home series at UAE of late and Sarfraz is fully aware of the conditions.

“If you look at the pitches there (UAE), they are generally slow in nature. So the spinners’ role would be very crucial,” he said.

He said that Pakistan possesses a potent bowling attack and its aim would be to put runs on the board and defend it. “If we bat first, we would like to post 300 plus targets and if we do, we have bowlers who can defend that target,” he said.