Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram has admitted that Pakistan’s inconsistent Asia Cup 2025 campaign has been difficult to watch, especially their one-sided defeat against India — a result he said left him feeling "down and depressed."
Pakistan’s journey in the tournament has been a mixed bag. They started with a dominant win over Oman, followed by a heavy loss to arch-rivals India, and then bounced back with a narrow but crucial win against the UAE, which secured their place in the Super 4s..
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Wasim Akram: One-Sided Loss to India Was “Tough to Take”
Speaking after the victory over the UAE, Akram shared his emotional response as both a former player and a passionate supporter of the national team.. While acknowledging that winning and losing are part of the game, he confessed that the manner of defeat to India was especially hard to accept.
“Of course, we feel like every other Pakistani. We love our cricket, and winning or losing is part of the game — I know that from having played so much for Pakistan. However, the way we lost to India in such a one-sided game was tough to take. Even today, you could see the players under pressure, with technical faults showing. I’m human too, and at times it does leave me feeling down and depressed,” said Akram.
Pakistan Set for India Rematch in Super 4s Amid High Expectations
Meanwhile, off the field, Pakistan has been embroiled in controversy following the post-match handshake incident. The PCB accused match referee Andy Pycroft of blocking a handshake between Indian and Pakistani captains, later demanding his removal from the tournament. However, the ICC refused to replace Pycroft, who went on to officiate the Pakistan vs UAE match.
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Another crucial matchup with India is in store now that Pakistan has qualified for the Super 4. Pakistani supporters are still optimistic that the team will perform well when it counts most, despite the fact that many experts predict another lopsided match in India's favor.
