Abhishek stars as India hurt Pakistan again in Asia Cup

KARACHI:

Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill put up a 100-run stand as India thrashed Pakistan again in the Asia Cup rematch on Sunday.

It was a clinical batting display from the left-hander, who was destructive with that bat, hitting six boundaries and five maximums in his 74-run knock coming off just 39 balls.

He was well supported by India’s Test captain Gill, who scored 47 off 28, setting up a momentum for the rest of the batters in a record run-chase.

It was a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash on Sunday.

The duo added 105 runs inside 10 overs until all-rounder Faheem Ashraf cleaned up Gill.

Following his dismissal, India lost two more wickets in quick succession as Haris Rauf dismissed India captain Suryakumar Yadav, while Abrar Ahmed got rid of Sharma to bring the total down to 123/3 in 12.2 overs.

Wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma then batted cautiously to add 25 more to the total off as many deliveries before Haris struck again, dismissing the former, who walked back after scoring 13 off 17.

Meanwhile, Varma remained firm and steered India over the line with an unbeaten 30 off 19 deliveries, laced with two sixes and as many fours. He was supported by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who made seven not out.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan struck an attacking half-century as Pakistan posted 171-5 after India again refused to shake hands with their opponents in the Asia Cup on Sunday.

The rivals came into the Super Four contest of the regional tournament with tensions high after India angered Pakistan with a 'no handshake' stance in their previous meeting at the same venue in Dubai.

India won the toss and fielded first, but Pakistan came out attacking as Farhan, who hit 58, and Saim Ayub, who made 21, put on 72 runs for the second wicket to heap pressure on the Indian bowlers.

Fakhar Zaman opened with Farhan and started aggressively in his nine-ball 15 before being caught behind.

Farhan kept up the charge as he hit five fours and three sixes in his 45-ball knock.

India hit back with three wickets, including Farhan who was dismissed by medium-pace bowler Shivam Dube as Pakistan slipped to 115-4.

Mohammad Nawaz made 21 before being run out.

Skipper Salman Agha, on 17, and Faheem Ashraf, with 20 off eight balls, struck 22 between them to boost the total.

Dube stood out with figures of 2-33, but Indian fielders had a day to forget as they dropped a few catches.

India beat Pakistan in their group match, which was the first cricketing clash between the rival nations since a four-day cross-border conflict in May left more than 70 people dead.

Andy Pycroft turned out as match referee for the Super Four match in spite of Pakistan lodging a protest with the International Cricket Council, alleging that the Zimbabwean had told Agha not to approach India skipper Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake.

The Pakistan Cricket Board demanded that Pycroft be removed from their matches and threatened to withdraw from the eight-team T20 competition.

Because of fraught political ties, nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues during multi-team tournaments.