(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan Skipper Salman Ali Agha Admits Team Fell Short Against India in Asia Cup Clash
September 22, 2025
DUBAI: India extended their dominance over Pakistan in T20 internationals with a six-wicket victory in the Asia Cup Super Four match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 172, India cruised home in 18.5 overs, thanks to a match-winning 74 off 39 balls from opener Abhishek Sharma. Alongside Shubman Gill, he put on a rapid 105-run stand that set the tone for the chase.
The result marked India’s second win over Pakistan in the tournament and their 12th victory in 15 T20I meetings between the two sides.
Rivalry debate
Speaking at the post-match press conference, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav downplayed the rivalry narrative.
“According to me, if two teams play 15–20 matches and the results are even, then it is a rivalry. If it’s one-sided, then I don’t see it that way,” he said, while praising his team’s overall performance in batting and bowling.
Pakistan’s perspective
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted his side fell short of a competitive total despite a strong start.
“We were 91 in 10 overs and should have capitalized. We ended about 15–20 runs short of what we wanted. Still, 171 was a challenging score,” he said.
Agha also acknowledged the difficulties his bowlers faced against India’s opening pair.
“We need to play a perfect game and do well in all three departments. Hopefully, we can bounce back in the next match against Sri Lanka,” he added.
Tournament update
For Pakistan, opener Sahibzada Farhan stood out with a 45-ball 58, but middle-order wickets slowed momentum. India, on the other hand, displayed sharp batting execution and held their composure in the field despite a few missed chances.
Pakistan’s next Super Four clash will be against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, while India will continue their campaign with strong momentum.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in their Super Four encounter on Saturday, keeping the points table finely balanced.
