As Pakistan gear up for their Super Four clash against India in the Asia Cup 2025, skipper Salman Ali Agha has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
Can Pakistan take revenge for their defeat against India?
Speaking after Pakistan’s scrappy win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Agha admitted that while Pakistan’s bowlers have been consistent, the batting unit must deliver more if they hope to overturn their group-stage defeat to India.
“We’re ready for any challenge,” Agha said. “We just want to play good cricket, and if we play good cricket like we’ve been playing for the last few months, I think we’ll be good against any side.”
Pakistan’s batting has been under scrutiny throughout the tournament. They managed only 127 runs against India, eventually losing by seven wickets, and followed that up with a modest 146/9 against UAE. While the lower order has shown resilience, the middle overs (7-15) have consistently dragged Pakistan down.
“We got the job done but we needed to bat better in the middle overs,” Agha admitted. “The bowlers did well. We haven’t batted to our best yet. If we batted well, we would have ended up with 170-180.”
The skipper’s words highlight a worrying trend: Pakistan’s middle-order, including the likes of Saim Ayub and Khushdil Shah, has failed to click so far. With India’s bowling attack in top form, Pakistan will need sharper intent and stability through the middle overs.
While batting remains an issue, Shaheen Afridi has emerged as a surprise package with the bat, playing crucial cameos down the order. His quick-fire runs against both India and UAE rescued Pakistan from deeper collapses. Agha praised his star pacer, noting: “Shaheen’s contributions with the bat have been invaluable. He has given us runs when we needed them most.”
On the bowling front, Abrar Ahmed has impressed with his variations and control, often breaking partnerships at critical moments. Agha believes that Afridi’s all-round efforts and Abrar’s spin could play a decisive role in the upcoming game against India.
India holds psychological edge over Pakistan
India dominated the group-stage fixture, bowling Pakistan out for just 127 before comfortably chasing down the target. With Suryakumar Yadav’s side in strong form, Pakistan know they must lift their batting standards to avoid a repeat.
Agha acknowledged India’s edge but maintained that Pakistan are capable of bouncing back: “We haven’t batted to our potential yet. Once we do, we’ll be very competitive.”
The India vs Pakistan rivalry needs little fuel, but the no-handshake controversy during their last meeting has added further intrigue. After initial complaints and threats of boycott, Pakistan have now shifted focus fully to cricket. Agha was quick to brush aside off-field distractions, signaling readiness to concentrate on performance rather than politics.
Dubai set for another blockbuster showdown
The eagerly awaited clash takes place on Sunday, September 21, at the Dubai International Stadium. With millions of fans expected to tune in, it promises to be one of the most-watched matches of the Asia Cup 2025.
For Pakistan, it is not just about securing a win – it is about reclaiming pride, fixing middle-order woes, and proving they can match India in pressure situations. For India, it is another chance to assert dominance and secure their march towards the final.
Also WATCH: Scary moment in Asia Cup 2025 as umpire suffers head blow during Pakistan vs UAE game
