Shadab strongly shuns Ajit Agarkar's remark over Kohli handling Pakistan pacers

In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan, a statement from newly-appointed BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has sparked a controversy, prompting a response from Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan.

Agarkar announced India's 17-member squad for the Asia Cup during a press conference last Monday. However, a segment quoting Agarkar discussing Virat Kohli's approach to facing Pakistan's pacers was actually fabricated and never occurred during the press conference.

The statement in question falsely suggests that Agarkar claimed Kohli can handle the pace attack of Pakistan, which on its day is one of the best in the world.

"Virat Kohli will take care of them," Agarkar said.

Shadab, reacting to the misrepresented statement after Pakistan's win against Afghanistan, said that words alone don't dictate reality.

"See, it all depends on what happens that day. Me or someone else, or someone from their side can say whatever they want. It doesn't make any difference. When the match takes place, then only we'll get to know what is the reality," Shadab said.

Kohli has faced Pakistan only in the T20I format since 2019, where he has scored 158 runs in 110 deliveries against the pacers, including Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain and Shahnawaz Dahani. He has only been dismissed once, by Shaheen in the 2021 T20 World Cup, after clinching a fifty.