Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is fast becoming a nightmare for bowlers in the international cricket. Last year during the ICC Champions Trophy, the left-handed batsman was instrumental in Pakistan’s title win. Fakhar scored a match-winning century against rivals in the final to help his side win the tournament. During the recently concluded One-Day International series against Zimbabwe, the opener became the first Pakistani batsman to score a double century in the 50-overs format of the game. Besides it, he also became the fastest batsman to reached 1,000 ODI runs. Asia Cup Cricket 2018 Schedule in PDF Download: Time Table and Venue of Asia Cup Cricket Including India vs Pakistan Fixture.

In September, traditional rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns in the Asia Cup 2018 and former Australian batsman Mike Hussey has a plan that can help India neutralise the aggressive opener’s threat. Hussey has advised Indian bowlers to take pace off the ball to tackle Fakhar Zaman.

"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," 43-year-old Hussey told PTI.

"I think change of pace could work against him because he goes hard at the ball, taking the pace off it (the ball) could be advantageous."

Hussey, a commentator with Star Sports for the Tamil Nadu Premier League, described the left-handed Zaman as an attacking batsman. Zaman had scored a match-winning hundred in the ICC Champions Trophy final last year against India.

"Fakhar Zaman from Pakistan, what great form he is been off late and who could forget his century in the ICC Champions Trophy (final) against India, not too long ago," he said. "Such an exciting player, very attacking, likes to score quickly, backs himself and plays with no fear and he is hard to bowl to, because he can score all-round the ground. The margin for error for the bowlers is very very small," added Hussey.

Hussey predicts that India and Pakistan will be favourites in the six-nation Asia Cup but said Afghanistan, who have confirmed their participation, can spring a surprise. It’s India vs Pakistan in Cricket This September! Asia Cup 2018 Shifted to UAE.

"Looking ahead towards the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan are the favourites, both been playing some excellent ODI cricket and (are) quality ODI teams," he said.

"But the surprise package could be Afghanistan, any team with Rashid Khan and Mujeeb (Ur Rahman) in them, is not easy to beat, so keep an eye, so if they score enough runs, they are going to be hard to beat." (Inputs PTI).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2018 10:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).