Preparations bosted for India re-encounter in Asia Cup 2025, declares Pakistan skipper Salman Agha
Pakistan has advanced to the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup, following their victory over United Arab Emirates. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised concerns about certain aspects of the team's performance and has called for improvement, particularly in the middle order batting.
Captain Salman Agha remains optimistic, stating that his team is ready for any challenge. "We are prepared and eager to face the upcoming matches," he said.
In the Super Fours stage, Pakistan will play two teams from Group B in a round robin format. This means they will face India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The next encounter for Pakistan will be against India on Sunday.
The last match between these two nations ended in a seven-wicket victory for India. The acrimony that marked their last encounter is likely to carry over, as India refused to shake hands with Pakistan after their group-stage match. This refusal to shake hands was also seen at the toss and among the players at the end of the match.
The PCB has called for the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft for a code of conduct violation. Pycroft, a Zimbabwe-based referee, was involved in an incident that led to the PCB's concerns. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has indicated its willingness to conduct a formal inquiry into the alleged breach of the code of conduct.
Former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi were present with Salman Agha at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium. During the conference, Agha expressed a desire for Pakistan to play good cricket and improve their batting in the middle order.
The PCB considered withdrawing from the tournament before going ahead with Wednesday's match after Pycroft tendered apologies. Despite the challenges, Agha remains hopeful. "We are focused on our game and aim to put up a good show," he said.
If both India and Pakistan reach the September 28 final, they could potentially meet for a third time at the tournament. This prospect has added an extra layer of excitement to the already intense rivalry between the two nations.
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