Follow UsFormer Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz believes India will face added pressure against the Men in Green in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on September 28 (Sunday). Suryakumar Yadav and Co. have already beaten Pakistan twice in the tournament, but Riaz feels a third encounter could tilt the psychological edge in Pakistan’s favour.
“It is going to be a different ball game from my perspective now because you have already played 2 games against India. Yes, you couldn’t win both of those games but now there will be additional pressure on India as well when they will be playing Pakistan in the final,” Riaz told ESPNCricinfo.
“That’s the key. And this is after I think 2012 or 2013 that these teams are playing at least three games in a tournament. It’s not a bilateral series but it is going to be the third game of the tournament which also gives some edge to Pakistan. And probably from my perspective, India will be under pressure playing against Pakistan because they have to win three games in a row. So that could be a good blessing in disguise as well.”
Pakistan were heavily beaten in their opening game against India, but showed some fight in the Super Fours stage. Posting 171/5 in their 20 overs, they pushed India deep into the game despite a 105-run opening stand between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill in just 9.5 overs, taking the match to the penultimate over.
The two encounters have also been mired in controversy. After the group stage match, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) complained with the ICC, accusing Indian players of breaching the spirit of the game by refusing to shake hands. The PCB also requested the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he advised India captain Suryakumar not to shake hands with his counterpart during the toss.
Tensions escalated further during the Super Fours clash, with Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan drawing attention for controversial gestures aimed at Indian fans. Both Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi were also involved in multiple heated exchanges with Gill and Abhishek.