Wahab Riaz, a former pacer for Pakistan, thinks India will be under more pressure when they play the Men in Green in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday, September 28, in Dubai.
Although Suryakumar Yadav and company have already defeated Pakistan twice in the tournament, Wahab Riaz believes a third meeting would give Pakistan the psychological advantage.
Since you have previously played two games versus India, it will be different from my point of view. Yes, you couldn’t win both of those matches, but India will now have more pressure when they play Pakistan in the championship match,” Wahab Riaz told ESPNCricinfo.
That’s crucial. And this comes after these teams played at least three games in a tournament in 2012 or 2013, I believe. Although it isn’t a bilateral series, Pakistan has an advantage because it will be the third game in the competition. Additionally, I believe that India will be under pressure to win three straight games when they play Pakistan. Therefore, it might also be a hidden blessing.
Pakistan put up a fight in the Super Fours stage despite losing badly to India in their initial match. Despite a 105-run opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill in just 9.5 overs, they forced India deep into the match with a score of 171/5 in their 20 overs, pushing the match to the last over.
Controversy has also surrounded the two confrontations. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint with the ICC following the group stage match, claiming that Indian players had violated the game’s spirit by declining to shake hands. In addition, the PCB demanded that match referee Andy Pycroft be fired for allegedly telling India captain Suryakumar not to shake hands with his opponent during the toss.
During the Super Fours match, tensions increased even more after Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf made contentious gestures directed at Indian supporters. Additionally, Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi had several heated arguments with Gill and Abhishek.
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