Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria locks in his winner prediction for Asia Cup ODI 2023

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is known for being vocal about his opinions on cricket. This time, the seasoned cricketer-turned-expert predicted the winners for the upcoming Asia Cup ODI 2023. The marquee continental competition starts on August 30 with Pakistan facing Nepal at Multan. The tournament will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka with all of India’s games taking place in the island nation. Moreover, the knockout games have also been scheduled in Sri Lanka to avoid further difficulties in conduct.

India, on the other hand, will be opening their campaign against Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy. This would be the first of the three games that the two arch-rivals could play. The other two games – one in the Super Four and the other, in the grand finale, are subject to qualification from both sides. Danish Kaneria recently previewed and presented his analysis of the game during a live session on his YouTube channel.

Danish Kaneria highlighted issues with India’s bowling and middle-order

“Pakistan appears to have the upper hand at the moment due to India’s current state of uncertainty. The question of which fast bowlers will secure a spot remains unanswered. As for their spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal’s form has been erratic. To me, the ideal trio of spinners should comprise Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja. In the role of a reserve spinner, Ravi Bishnoi should be the choice,” he said highlighting issues the Indian outfit currently experiences.

“While KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been diligently training at the NCA and are likely contenders for India’s squad in the imminent major tournaments, it’s essential to note that inclusion in the team shouldn’t solely be based on practice performances,” he further stated highlighting India’s batting woes.

Notably, India and Pakistan will meet again in the ODI World Cup 2023. The marquee clash between the two nations was preponed to October 14 from the original date of October 15 due to the Hindu festival, ‘Navaratri’. It will be hosted by the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.