Wasim Akram admitted he was left “depressed” by Pakistan’s performance in their Asia Cup 2025 clash against India, calling it one of the most disappointing displays in recent times. While the Salman Ali Agha-led side managed to bounce back with a 41-run win over the UAE to book their Super Four spot, the legendary fast bowler stressed that Pakistan’s batting failures remain a worrying sign.

“Of course, we feel like every other Pakistani. We love our cricket, and winning or losing is part of the game—I know that from having played so much for Pakistan. But the way we lost to India, in such a one-sided game, was tough to take. Even today, you could see the players under pressure, with technical faults showing. I’m human too, and at times it does leave me feeling down and depressed,” Wasim Akram said while analysing the team’s struggles.

Despite the victory over the UAE, Pakistan’s batting order once again faltered, managing only 146/9 in their 20 overs. Fakhar Zaman was the lone top-order batter to cross 30, while the middle order failed to build momentum.

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A late flourish from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who smashed an unbeaten 29 off 14 balls, gave the total some respectability. Skipper Salman Ali Agha acknowledged the shortcomings, emphasising the need to tighten up in the middle overs, especially with a high-pressure Super Four clash against India looming on September 21.

“We got the job done but we needed to bat better in the middle overs. The bowlers did well. We haven’t batted to our best yet. If we batted well, we would have ended up with 170–180. Shaheen is a match-winner, and his batting has improved. Abrar has been outstanding. We are ready for any challenge. If we play good cricket, we can be good against any side,” Salman Agha stated.

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The concerns are further highlighted by Saim Ayub’s ongoing struggles—registering three consecutive ducks in the tournament—and Agha himself failing to stamp authority in crunch phases. With India up next, Pakistan’s batting will need to rediscover consistency if they are to challenge their arch-rivals.

For now, Pakistan may have sealed a Super Four berth, but Akram’s candid admission sums up the mood: the team has plenty to fix before facing bigger challenges.