Former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has offered advice to Salman Ali Agha and the national team ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 final against India on Sunday. This marks the third encounter between the sides in the ongoing tournament, with India having won both previous matches under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership.
Akram’s advice to Pakistan
Akram stressed the importance of self-belief and early breakthroughs to put India under pressure.
“The final is between India and Pakistan. India is definitely the favourite, but anything can happen. Pakistan must maintain confidence and momentum. They must believe in themselves and play smart cricket. If Pakistan takes early wickets, they can put India on the back foot. I hope the best team will win in the end,” Akram said.
Pakistan’s path to the final
Pakistan secured their spot in the final following a hard-fought 11-run victory over Bangladesh in the last Super Four match. Despite a lukewarm tournament performance overall, the win highlighted their resilience and team spirit.
Salman Ali Agha’s remarks
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha praised his team’s performance while acknowledging areas for improvement:
“If you win these kinds of games, then we must be a special team. Everyone played really well. There is some room for improvement in batting, but we will work on that. We have been fielding well. Shane has been working hard for us. Mike Hesson said if you can’t field, you won’t be on the team. We are a good enough team to beat anyone. We will come back on Sunday and try and do that.”
Historical context
The upcoming clash will be India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup final, marking the first time the arch-rivals meet in both ODI and T20I editions of the tournament. With India entering as favourites, the final promises a high-stakes contest between two cricketing powerhouses.