Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha admitted his team fell short in all three departments during their Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash against India, with batting once again proving to be the weak link after a solid start. Pakistan got off to a flying start, racing to 91/1 in the first 10 overs thanks to Sahibzada Farhan’s fluent half-century.
But the momentum slipped away quickly as India’s all-rounder Shivam Dube delivered a game-changing spell, conceding just 16 runs in three overs while picking up two crucial wickets. As a result, Pakistan managed only 80 runs in the final 10 overs, finishing on 171/5.
“The batting was much better today, which is a positive. Given our start, we could have scored 15 more runs overall. But once the ball gets soft after 10 overs, it becomes challenging to accelerate,” Salman Agha reflected after the six-wicket defeat.
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He also admitted that Pakistan’s bowlers failed to contain India’s openers during the chase. Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28) came out all guns blazing, adding 105 runs for the first wicket and virtually sealing the contest in the powerplay.
“To win, you need to excel in batting, bowling, and fielding. We didn’t field well, nor did we start well with the ball. Our performance lacked balance,” the captain acknowledged.
Despite the loss, Salman Agha urged his side to stay positive ahead of their next Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka. “We need to put this game behind us and focus on the match the day after tomorrow. That’s the only way forward.”
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Pakistan’s late push came from Faheem Ashraf (20*) and Mohammad Nawaz (21), who helped lift the total beyond 170. But Salman admitted the conditions in Dubai demanded more adaptability. “On these wickets, it’s tough for a new batter to score freely. The set batter needs to stay till the end. Unlike Pakistan pitches where 200 is par, here you need to respect the conditions and play accordingly,” he concluded.
