Pakistan have lost against India twice in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Pakistan suffered a crushing six-wicket defeat at the hands of India in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 21).
Asked to bat first, the Men in Green rode on Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century (58 off 45) and Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten cameo (20* off 8) to post 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
In reply, the Indian opening duo of Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28) took the Pakistani bowling attack to the cleaners, sharing a fiery 105-run stand to propel the defending champions over the line with seven deliveries to spare.
This was Pakistan’s seventh straight defeat against the arch-rivals, and the gulf only seems to be growing wider and wider between the two sides.
After the latest defeat against India, former speedster Shoaib Akhtar ranted on live TV and launched a scathing attack on Pakistan coach Mike Hesson’s selection calls.
Akhtar questioned the logic behind including Hussain Talat in the playing XI instead of Hassan Nawaz.
“The coach should be asked the questions – where are his brains? It is just senseless coaching and senseless selection of the team. It is beyond me, it feels like I am the one who is a fraud, who doesn’t understand a thing after playing 15 years of cricket,” Akhtar said on the ‘Game On Hai’ programme.
“In the last five-six games, we have been saying just play the right team. In an important fixture, you thought about playing Hussain Talat? How did you even think about it? What is his utility? Tell me,” he added.
During the panel discussion, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik put Akhtar on the spot by asking him what changes he would make if he becomes the PCB chief.
Before answering the question, the Rawalpindi Express said that he will never be asked by the PCB to take up the high-profile job.
"First of all, PCB will never ask me to do this job. The reason is that I’m going to do the right thing, whatever is necessary. I’m not saying give me the power. I believe in teamwork. I believe in logic. I believe in working together," Akhtar said.
"It’s not about ‘give me the power and I’ll fix it.’ No, no, no, it’s not like that. I would rather have a 20-member selection committee. I will take their advice: ‘What do you guys say? Tell me," he remarked.
Akhtar further stated that if he takes up the PCB chairman role, he will give all the players freedom to express themselves, irrespective of the situation.
"To fix Pakistan cricket, if I am given three years and handed the command, the children must be given confidence. I will tell them ‘Saim Ayub, son, go play. Abhishek Sharma has a license; you also play. No problem, you won’t get dropped if you get out. Saim beta, the whole year is for you.’ I’ll see how performance doesn’t come. He (Saim Ayub) is scared, poor boy,” Akhtar said.
"In a PSL game, it’s fine, runs happen. But you have to hit in a pressure game. Abhishek has a license, so he’s hitting it," he added.
After losing to India, Pakistan are facing a must-win situation in the remaining Super 4 games to stay alive in the Asia Cup 2025. They will take on Sri Lanka in their next match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (September 23).