Pakistan lock eyes on Asia Cup after tri-series triumph

WEB DESK: As the Asia Cup draws closer, Pakistan’s momentum is stronger than ever, following their resounding triumph in the T20I tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE. Captain Salman Ali Agha believes the team’s recent form is setting them up perfectly for a third Asia Cup title.

Pakistan’s latest success came with a dominant 75-run victory over Afghanistan in the final, just two days before the Asia Cup kicks off. The victory was highlighted by a match-winning performance from Mohammad Nawaz, whose all-round brilliance helped Pakistan continue their impressive run in T20I cricket.

Also read: Muhammad Waseem to lead UAE squad in Asia Cup 2025

Nawaz, who was named Player of the Series for his all-round brilliance, contributed with both bat and ball, scoring 12 runs and taking 10 wickets, including a stunning 5-wicket haul in the final. He made history by becoming just the third Pakistan bowler to claim a T20I hat-trick, following a remarkable sequence of three consecutive wickets against Afghanistan’s top order.

The win in Sharjah marked Pakistan’s 10th victory in their last 13 T20I outings since Mike Hesson took charge as the team’s white-ball coach in May.

Skipper Ali Agha is confident that the team is peaking at the right time and believes they are ready to take on Oman in their opening Asia Cup match on September 12. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he said, “I feel we’ve been building really well since the Bangladesh series, and we’re in great shape for the tournament.”

Ali Agha also shared his praise for Mohammad Nawaz, saying that he has been “outstanding since his return to the side… He has been crucial with the bat, ball, and in the field. Whenever we find ourselves in tough situations, Nawaz is the player we can rely on.”

The captain also touched upon the team’s spin options. “There was a lot of discussion around playing two spinners, but our approach is to assess the pitch conditions on the day and make a decision accordingly. Today, it worked perfectly.”

MATCH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED

The match officials for the 2025 Asia Cup T20 have been announced, with two Pakistani umpires, Asif Yaqoob and Faisal Afridi, included in the lineup. Yaqoob will serve as an on-field umpire, while Afridi will be the TV umpire for the tournament’s opening match.

The event will also feature two umpires each from Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Additionally, Richie Richardson and Andy Pycroft have been appointed as match referees for the tournament.

The first match of the Asia Cup 2025 will take place tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, where Afghanistan will face Hong Kong.

PAKISTAN INDIA SHOWDOWN IS ALREADY BREAKING RECORDS

While, Pakistan will be opening the tournament against the UAE on September 12, the bigger showdown is scheduled two days later, on September 14, between Pakistan and India. While there is no surprise that tickets of this game were in hot demand, the ad rates for the match, too, shot up.

According to figures released by Indian media, the cost of a 10-second TV advertisement during the blockbuster match has soared beyond Rs 5.1 million. This is as much an ode to the commercial power of cricket as it is to the worldwide interest in this arch-rivalry.

Also read: Record-breaking ad rates for Pakistan-India Asia Cup clash spark media frenzy

The advertising frenzy doesn’t stop there. Co-presenting sponsorships for the broadcast have reportedly crossed Rs 5.8 billion, while associate sponsorships have climbed to over Rs 4.1 billion.

Meanwhile, Pakistan-based advertisers looking to secure a spot-buy TV package will have to shell out over Rs 1.4 billion, as per the same reports.