Pakistan has qualified for the Asia Cup 2025 final, setting up a match against India. This is a historic moment as it’s the first India-Pakistan final in the 41-year history of the Asia Cup. Following their victory over Bangladesh and subsequent entry into the final, Pakistani captain Salman Agha and coach Mike Hesson have made statements which may be seen as a challenge to India.
The captain and coach’s comments directly target India. Agha expressed that he and his team are fully prepared for the final. He is confident that they know what they need to do and that his team is capable of beating any team. He stated that they will be ready and will attempt to defeat India.
Coach Mike Hesson highlighted that they had defeated Sri Lanka, a team they had not beaten since 2017, and that they were now in the Asia Cup final. Their intent is clear—they believe their team can defeat India in the final.
This confidence is notable given that Pakistan has already lost twice to India in this Asia Cup. The Indian captain doesn’t consider Pakistan a major rival. This upcoming final will be the third time India and Pakistan face off in the Asia Cup 2025. Pakistan’s captain and coach’s claims are particularly striking in light of the team’s previous losses to India in the tournament.