Agha: Pakistan can beat anyone

After a thrilling Super 4s win over Bangladesh, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha described his side as a "special team" capable of beating anyone, including India, in the upcoming Asia Cup final. The victory, defending a modest total of 135, was a testament to Pakistan’s resilience and team spirit.

Pakistan bowlers rose to the occasion, defending the low score with precision and intensity, ultimately securing an 11-run win and booking a maiden Asia Cup final against arch-rivals India. Agha praised his team’s performance while acknowledging the need for improvement in batting.

"If you win these kinds of games, then we must be a special team. Everyone played really well. There is some improvement needed in batting, but we will work on that," he said during the presentation ceremony.

Pakistan and India will face off for the third time in the tournament, having already met in the group stage and again in the Super Fours. "We are very excited. We know what we need to do, and we are a good enough team to beat anyone. We will come on Sunday and try to beat them," Agha added.

Agha also singled out Shaheen Shah Afridi for his all-round performance. Afridi earned the Player-of-the-Match award with a quick 19 off 13 balls, helping Pakistan post a competitive total, before returning to take 3 wickets for 17 runs. "Shaheen is a special player. He does what the team needs of him. I am very happy for him. The way we bowled up front, we created pressure. More often than not, you win games if you bowl like this," Agha said.

Afridi reflected on his contribution, emphasizing the importance of early breakthroughs in defending a small total. "After early wickets, the team decided to let me go and take on the bowlers. Those sixes turned momentum to our end," he said, adding confidently, "We are ready for India."

Bangladesh stand-in captain Jaker Ali admitted their batting failures cost them consecutive losses, including the match against Pakistan. "As a batting unit, the last two games we lost. The bowling did well, but batting cost us the game," he said. Ali also acknowledged his attempts to adjust to captaincy while supporting young players like Saif and Rishad, but said they didn’t get enough backing.

With Pakistan showing confidence and India eager to defend their title, Sunday’s Asia Cup final promises to be an intense showdown.

As of the 2025 Asia Cup, Pakistan has been defeated by India 10 times in the tournament's history. The two teams have faced each other 19 times in the Asia Cup, with India winning 10 matches, Pakistan winning 6, and 3 matches ending without a result.

In the Super 4 stage, India defeated Sri Lanka by 41 runs. Earlier, in the group stage, India won against Oman by 21 runs, Pakistan by 7 wickets, and Bangladesh by 41 runs. These consistent performances have propelled India into the final, where they are set to face Pakistan in Dubai.