Pakistan Cricket Board's High-Performance Director Aaqib Javed has made a strong claim ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. He believes that Pakistan's team has the ability to defeat India. Pakistan have lost continuously in the last four major tournaments. The Men In Green did not get a win against India in the Asia Cup 2023, ODI World Cup 2023, T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025. Despite this, Aaqib believes that this time the situation will be different and the players will come out strongly on the field.
This statement came when PCB announced a 17-member team for the Asia Cup. This announcement surprised everyone as big names like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were not included in the team. The captaincy has been handed over to Salman Ali Agha. Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah have also been left out, which further intensified the discussion. Aaqib clearly said that every player believes in his ability and is mentally prepared to compete against a team like India.
“This team has the ability to beat India in the Asia Cup. Whether you like it or not, the match between India and Pakistan is the biggest in world cricket. Every player knows this. Our squad can beat any team. Everyone is ready,” Aaqib said while announcing the squad.
The India-Pakistan clash has a different impact
Matches between India and Pakistan are always considered special. Aaqib reiterated the fact that the eyes of the whole world are on this match. He also admitted that there will be pressure on the players, but he assured that PCB will not put them under additional pressure. This time, the match is considered even more sensitive because the tension between the two countries has increased further after the recent Pahalgam attack. Even the Legends cricket match last month was cancelled due to this tension.
The first India-Pakistan match of the Asia Cup will be played on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. If both teams reach the Super Four, then another clash is certain on September 21. Everyone knows that this will not be just a cricket match, but the circumstances will make it even bigger.
“Everyone knows the situation surrounding the two countries (India and Pakistan). But we don’t need to put extra pressure on them,” he added.
Opinion:
Aaqib Javed's statement is full of confidence, but history shows that it has not been easy for Pakistan to win against India. The team selection has raised many questions. It remains to be seen how strong this team will be without experienced players like Babar and Rizwan. Still, uncertainty always remains in cricket, and this is what makes this clash interesting.
