 "India taken on Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday. Image: Reuters")
Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal is confident Men In Green can pull off a surprise against the Indian cricket team during the Super Sunday clash in the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in Dubai. The last time India lost a T20I to Pakistan was three years back, also in the Asia Cup in Dubai, during a Super 4 match of the 2022 edition.
Since then, India have won their last two matches against Pakistan, with the latest win coming in the T20 World Cup 2024. Overall, India have a massive edge, winning nine out of 13 matches against Pakistan. They have lost three games, while one ended in a tie.
Kamran Akmal feels ‘Pakistan can surprise India’
The Suryakumar Yadav-led India are also the No.1 team in T20I rankings and crushed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 opener, which lasted for only 17.4 overs.
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But Kamran Akmal is unfazed. The former wicketkeeper-batter feels Pakistan are also confident after beating Afghanistan in the recent Tr-Series final in the UAE and has what it takes to beat India if they can devise a good game plan and sort out their playing XI.
“It will be a pressure game for both sides. Many of the young players will be playing against each other for the first time,” Kamran Akmal told ARY News. “Our team has recently won the tri-series. The confidence from winning the series should benefit Pakistan.”
“Pakistan can surprise India if they come up with a good game plan and Playing XI,” he said.
Pahalgam attack shadow looms over IND vs PAK match
Considering the India vs Pakistan clash is taking place against the backdrop of the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, in which multiple terrorist campsites were destroyed in Pakistan, the Asia Cup match is expected to be a high-octane contest with both teams under tremendous pressure.
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On the eve of the tournament, Pakistan captain Salman Agha said that he has not given any special instructions to his players ahead of the India game, and a bit of aggression from the cricketers will be fine as long as tension doesn’t spill out of the field.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“You don’t need to say anything to any player,” he said. “From my side, there is no instruction to anyone, as long as it stays on the field.”