Asia Cup final: Pak’s hopes hang in balance after second defeat to India

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s chances of reaching the Asia Cup T20 2025 final suffered a major setback on Sunday after losing to India for the second time in the Super Four stage, leaving fans frustrated and the team’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

India won the toss in Dubai and elected to field. Pakistan posted a competitive 171 for five in their allotted 20 overs, with contributions across the batting order. But the total proved insufficient against a confident Indian side. Chasing 172, India cruised home in the 19th over with six wickets in hand. Abhishek Sharma’s composed knock anchored the innings and earned him the Player of the Match award.

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The defeat leaves Salman Ali Agha’s men in a precarious position. To secure a spot in the final, Pakistan must win both of their remaining fixtures, against Sri Lanka on September 23 and Bangladesh on September 25. A single slip-up will end their campaign.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was unapologetically blunt in his post-match press conference, claiming contests with Pakistan no longer carried the same edge. “It’s no longer a rivalry, India has won most of the last ten to fifteen matches. The win ratio is nearly ten to one,” he said.

Yadav admitted his side made errors in the field, joking that some players seemed to have “butter on their hands.” He explained India’s decision to bowl first was based on their assessment of the wicket, which he said had become easier to play on since mid-September. Highlighting the turning point, Yadav praised bowler Dubey’s decisive spell after the mid-innings break, during which Pakistan’s batting momentum was broken.

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For Pakistan, the road ahead is steep. Sri Lanka, despite losing to Bangladesh earlier in the Super Four stage, remain strong contenders with six points and pose a formidable challenge. Bangladesh, buoyed by their win over Sri Lanka, will also look to end Pakistan’s campaign.

With two must-win games looming, Pakistan must regroup quickly if they are to keep alive their dream of reaching the Asia Cup final.