Former Pakistan selector and all -rounder Wahab Riaz has made an adventure ahead of the final of the Asia Cup 2025 between India and Pakistan on Sunday, September 28 in Dubai. Riyaz believes the India-Pakistan final will be a completely separate competition.
The former Pakistani cricketer said that the Indian cricket team would be under pressure when they will face men in green for the third time in the ongoing tournament. Riyaz said that for the third time in the same tournament, facing Pakistan, leads to additional pressure on men in blue, as they now need to maintain a correct winning streak to claim the trophy.
Wahab Riaz says that Pakistan is ready to start tables on India in Asia Cup 2025
According to former selectors, this will be an advantage for Pakistan, which will give them a psychological edge in the title clash on Sunday. In Green, men have suffered a back-to-back defeat against India, but have shown a big fight, flexibility and determination and made it in the final.
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Wahab Riaz said on ESPNCRICINFO, “It is going to be a separate ball game now because we have already played two games against India. Yes, we cannot win both those games. But now there will be additional pressure on India when they play Pakistan in the finals, and this is the key.
India will be under pressure: Wahab Riaz
He emphasized that the final could be an thrilling encounter, as India faces the burden of winning three consecutive games against its archives, while Pakistan enters with new confidence and hunger for victory. Performing Pakistan so far in the Asia Cup 2025, Riyaz said that the team now has a real opportunity to raise the trophy against the world’s number one team.
Riyaz said, “I think India will now be under pressure to play against Pakistan as they have to win three consecutive games. So that there is a good blessing for Pakistan too. Because now, the way Pakistan has played, the way they have come to the top, they now have a chance, and I will love them to be very honest.”
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Pakistan’s title opportunity depends on Powerplay successes: Wahab Riaz
Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz also highlighted the impact of India’s in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, which is dominating the powerplay and changing the game with his aggressive approach. He said that in the final, Pakistan’s opportunities will depend a lot on taking initial wickets in power play.
The former cricketer has noted that taking two quick wickets can transfer speed and Pakistan may get a strong opportunity to challenge India’s batting lineup. He also felt that Pakistan’s victory over Sri Lanka gave him a very important confidence to get into the title struggle.
Riyaz signed, saying, “We know that Abhishek is one of the best forms, and that is someone who is actually making India very different in power play and taking the game alone. Therefore, if they get wickets in powerplay against India, then at least two wickets in the powerplay will be a very different ball game.
