Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram believes that Pakistan can rise to the occasion against defending champions India in their upcoming Asia Cup 2025 contest and has also highlighted the greatness of the Indian side, who have excelled as a unit.
India have entered the Asia Cup 2025 as the favourites and the defending champions of the competition. They have won 18 of the 21 T20 internationals they have played since lifting the last T20 World Cup in 2024. India even dominated in the Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE.
Wasim Akram thinks India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 will be a competitive match
Pakistan legend has shown immense faith in the current revamped Pakistani squad, under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha. Also, the new coach, Mike Hesson, has a huge impact on lifting the spirits of the new Pakistan team.
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“I think it will be a competitive match,” Wasim told Telecom Asia Sport. “Yes, India are a good and strong team and if you compare these two teams player-wise India look strong, but I think Pakistan will have the confidence of winning the tri-series and will give a good competition.”
“Pakistan is a young side with a good captain and a good head coach, so they need time to settle into a stronger unit. We, as a nation, need quick results, which will not come,” he said.
Wasim Akram cites the concerns within the Indian team
After citing the positives in the evolving Pakistan side and their determination being remodified by the new coach, Wasim Akram has shed light on the team’s weak links in the Asia Cup 2025.
He showed immense concern over Mohammad Haris’ role in the batting order. “For me they have a few problems, like Mohammad Haris is not in the best of form but he is not playing at his usual number as opener,” Wasim noted, adding, “It’s tough on Haris… it’s next to impossible for an opener to bat in the middle order.”
Bowling depth, too, remains a worry as per the 59-year-old. “You cannot have two part-time bowlers as a fifth bowling option. If you have two part-timers, then the team will attack them,” Wasim warned.
Akram has also praised India’s depth in the T20I side
After having cited some challenges within the Indian team, the former Pakistani great revealed that he is impressed by the Indian team’s depth and balance going into the competition.
“Kuldeep and Varun are both good. It’s tough to read them. Kuldeep was very accurate and lethal the other day,” he said, crediting India’s system and infrastructure for sustained excellence.
Akram also showered high praise on the star Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah after he made his return to the Indian T20I side in the Asia Cup 2025, after a long gap from this format of international cricket.
“Bumrah is top of the ladder and is being managed well by India. So credit to bowlers of this era because due to T20 cricket, there is more pressure on them.”
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