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Shoaib Aktar on Pakistan's mindset (Source:@irfanbashiir/x.com, @NewsArenaIndia/x.com)
The year 2025 has been full of thrills, and the Asia Cup promises its biggest surprise yet. Before the upcoming final clash of the ongoing arch-rivals, India and Pakistan had never met in any Asia Cup finals, but the wait is over.
As the biggest showdown is approaching, Pakistan’s performance against India in the ongoing tournament is raising eyebrows. Ahead of the high-voltage clash, Shoaib Akhtar delivered a powerful message to the Men in Green.
Shoaib Akhtar’s big message to Men in Green
The 41-year wait has finally been over as India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns in the Asia Cup 2025 final. As the arch-rivals have graced the other big stage in the final games but the thrills were missing in the Asia Cup final stage. The Men in Green already faced India twice in the tournament, but they ended up with heartbreaks.
As their relationship strained further after the recent cross-border tension, Suryakumar Yadav and Co. registered two outstanding victories against Pakistan in the group stage and Super Four stage. With Pakistan gears up for the high-voltage showdown, former legend Shoaib Akhtar fired up the Men in Green with a bold, spirited message.
“Step out of that mindset, break their aura, and go in with the same attitude you had against Bangladesh—take them on, come at us, we’ll see. That’s the attitude you need,” Akhtar said on a local sports platform.
Bowlers must step up to make an impact
In the entire tournament, Pakistan’s bowling errors can’t be overlooked as their clashes against Team India are perfect examples of it. As the Pakistani bowlers came to bowl, the Indian openers tore them apart, and the game slipped away from their hands. With the final looming, the Pakistani legend called on their bowlers to sharpen their skills and rein in India’s firepower.
“We don’t just have to complete 20 overs, we have to take wickets. When you go for wickets, even India will realise that they can be rattled and not allowed to score freely. And the moment Abhishek gets out within the first two overs—mark my words—they’ll be in real trouble. Right now, they’re starting strong and enjoying themselves, but once that start is broken, they’ll struggle too,” he added.
After beating Bangladesh in the last clash, Pakistan stormed into the final. The Iconic Dubai International Stadium is set to host the iconic clash on September 28. With the rivalry hotter than ever, fans are gearing up for another thrilling chapter.
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