 "Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram have reacted to the upcoming India-Pakistan Asia Cup final. Image: YT/AFP")
India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns against each other in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday, September 28. This is the first time both teams have qualified for the Asia Cup final together. India and Pakistan have already played twice in this year’s competition, and now a third match is also coming up.
Ahead of the much-awaited summit clash, former Pakistan players have shared their thoughts on facing India. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram told reporters that India are the favourites going into the final, but admitted that anything can happen on the day. He said that Pakistan must take early wickets to give themselves a chance against the Men in Blue.
“There is an India-Pakistan game in the finals, India are definitely favourites, but anything can happen. Pakistan should take confidence, momentum, back themselves, play sensible cricket… If Pakistan can take early wickets, we can put India on backfoot. I hope in the end the best team will win,” Akram said.
Shoaib Akhtar reacts to India-Pakistan final
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar also shared his view, saying, “Pakistan has to move beyond this, forget about India being the number one team. We have the number one fast bowler in Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf is as quick as anyone in the world today. So there’s no issue if you go in with this attitude.”
“And please remember we don’t need to go in thinking we have to bowl 20 overs. No! we need to get them out. When you go out to get them out, even India will realise they have to fight to score runs and that they won’t get any free runs,” Akhtar said on the Game On Hai show.
In their first two matches in this Asia Cup, India beat Pakistan easily by 7 wickets in the group stage and by 6 wickets in the Super 4. India have not lost a single game so far and will want to keep their winning streak intact come Sunday. If India beat Pakistan for the third time in just two weeks, they will win a record 9th Asia Cup title and become the undisputed kings of the region.