DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed strong confidence on Saturday that his team will bounce back with their best performance against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup 2025 final, scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday).
Pakistan secured their spot after edging Bangladesh by 11 runs in the Super Fours clash on September 25. Remarkably, this will be the first-ever final between the two traditional rivals in the tournament’s history.
The 2016 champions entered the final after defeating every opponent except India, who beat them twice — in the group stage and Super Fours — with star players Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy leading the charge.
At the pre-match press conference , Agha acknowledged the intense pressure both sides face. “We will try to give our best and win the final. The team that makes fewer mistakes will win,” he stated.
While admitting Pakistan’s batting struggles, the skipper remained optimistic: “We know our batting hasn’t clicked yet, but maybe we’ve saved our best for the final.” Asia Cup 2025 final
On his own performance, Agha said he was working to improve his strike rate, stressing that team demands matter more than individual stats in T20s.
He also defended his players’ right to show aggression, provided it doesn’t cross the line of disrespect: “If a fast bowler can’t show aggression, then nothing is left. I give my players a free hand, as long as they respect the game and our country.”
Addressing the ongoing “handshake controversy,” Agha called it disappointing: “I’ve never seen anything like this. Tensions are normal in India-Pakistan games, but no handshake is bad for cricket.” Asia Cup 2025 final
With confidence in his squad’s recovery and determination, Agha assured fans that Pakistan is ready for the high-stakes showdown.
