Following Pakistan's defeat against India in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match, former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Kamran Akmal have criticized the team's performance, questioning the approach and leadership. India won the match by six wickets, chasing down a target of 172 with seven balls to spare.
India's chase was anchored by a strong opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma, who scored a blistering 74 off 39 balls, and Shubman Gill, who added 47. Their 105-run stand put Pakistan on the back foot from the start. While Pakistan managed to pick up a few wickets after the drinks break, Tilak Varma's unbeaten 30 off 19 balls ensured India reached the target comfortably. Haris Rauf was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan scored 171/5, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring with 58. Faheem Ashraf contributed a late cameo of 20 runs off 8 balls. Pakistan's innings got off to an explosive start, reaching 55/1 in the powerplay, their best against India in T20Is. However, India's bowlers, particularly Shivam Dube, struck at regular intervals to keep the scoring in check.
Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disappointment, stating that even the coach should be questioned after such a performance. He emphasized the need to analyze the team's mindset and preparation. Akhtar also touched upon the incident where the Indian team didn't shake hands with the Pakistani players after the match, calling it disheartening and urging that cricket shouldn't be made political.
Kamran Akmal echoed similar concerns, suggesting that Pakistan cricket is declining due to mismanagement and biased selection policies. He drew a parallel to Pakistan's hockey team, which has suffered a similar fate. Akmal lamented the lack of quality players emerging from the domestic structure and criticized the selection process for being driven by "liking and disliking" rather than merit. He warned that Pakistan cricket is running out of time and is only surviving because of corporate sponsorships.
The defeat also highlighted Pakistan's inconsistency, particularly with their batting. Opener Saim Ayub has struggled for form, and several batters have found it difficult to handle India's spinners. While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman remain threats, much of the lineup has underperformed.
India's dominant performance marked their highest successful T20I chase against Pakistan. This win extended their unbeaten run in the tournament and showcased their dominance over Pakistan in recent encounters. India has now defeated Pakistan twice in the Asia Cup 2025.
