Pakistan team needs grand operation

By the time India hit the winning runs in the Asia Cup 2025 final at Dubai, Pakistan’s campaign had already turned into a story of squandered opportunities and self-inflicted wounds. Yes, there were bright spots — Sahibzada Farhan’s fearless batting, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s early breakthroughs, Faheem Ashraf’s all-round utility, and Mohammad Nawaz’s tidy spells — but in the end, leadership flaws, poor selection calls, and brittle batting once again left Pakistan short on the big stage.

Starting with Salman Ali Agha’s elevation to captaincy was framed as part of a fresh vision for Pakistan cricket. But his leadership through the tournament exposed more weaknesses than strengths. The most costly misstep came in the final, when he inexplicably removed Abrar Ahmed, who was bowling with control, and brought back Haris Rauf. The over went for 17 runs — a turning point that effectively killed Pakistan’s chances.

More concerning was Salman’s reluctance to roll his arm over when the team needed variety in the middle overs. Add to that his underwhelming batting returns, and Pakistan were left with a captain who neither inspired with the bat nor steadied his bowlers with tactical clarity.

Haris gamble misfires

The decision to sideline Mohammad Rizwan, one of Pakistan’s most reliable batters and glovemen, in favour of Mohammad Haris was baffling from the start. Haris showed early promise with a cameo in the opening game, but that was it. His rash shot selection and lack of composure under pressure repeatedly let the side down. As a wicketkeeper, he was competent but nowhere near Rizwan’s calming presence. In hindsight, this was less a bold gamble and more a needless risk.

Another worry for Pakistan was Saim Ayub’s struggle with the bat. He entered the Asia Cup tipped as one of Pakistan’s brightest hopes. Instead, he endured a forgettable tournament, scraping together just 37 runs in seven matches. His right-arm spin offered a silver lining with eight wickets, but his primary job — scoring runs at the top — remained unfulfilled. Persisting with him in the middle order, rather than backing him as an opener, only compounded his struggles.

Elephant in the room

No discussion of this campaign can avoid the elephant in the room: the absence of Babar Azam. Dropping him may have been a political or tactical move, but it robbed Pakistan of their most experienced anchor in the batting order. Time and again, Pakistan’s middle order collapsed under pressure — the kind of scenarios where Babar’s calm accumulation has historically steadied the ship. His absence was a gamble that backfired spectacularly.

To paint this campaign as entirely bleak would be unfair. Sahibzada Farhan was Pakistan’s standout batter (scoring 217 runs), fearlessly taking on Jasprit Bumrah and compiling runs with a mix of flair and composure. Fakhar Zaman rediscovered some of his old spark at the top. With the ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi continued to deliver crucial new-ball strikes, while Faheem Ashraf proved his worth as a handy all-rounder. Mohammad Nawaz also played his role quietly, offering control in the middle overs.

The Asia Cup final was Pakistan’s first chance to claim regional bragging rights over India. Instead, it ended with familiar themes: muddled captaincy, poor selection, and brittle batting. Fans expected the tournament to be a launchpad for the T20 World Cup in early 2026, but it has instead left more questions than answers.

Should Salman continue as captain after such tactical blunders? Can Pakistan afford to keep sidelining proven performers like Rizwan and Babar in the name of experimentation? And will the management finally commit to giving players like Saim Ayub a defined role rather than shuffling them around?

Pakistan’s Asia Cup journey wasn’t a disaster — they reached the final and had moments of brilliance — but it was far from a success. If anything, it exposed just how much needs fixing before this team can truly dream of silverware.