'India under pressure': Ex-PAK pacer makes bold claim before Asia Cup final, calls recent defeats 'blessing in disguise'

India-Pakistan will play each other for the third time in Asia Cup 2025 (BCCI Photo)

Former pacer Wahab Riaz feels it might be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan to start as the underdogs against India in the Asia Cup final. Pakistan won the Super Four match against Bangladesh by 11 runs after defending a modest 135 to set up a first-ever Asia Cup final clash with bitter rivals India.

After meeting once in the group stage and again in the Super Fours, the two fierce rivals will now play each other for the third time in the tournament. India have defeated Pakistan twice in the tournament, first was a seven-wicket victory in the group stage, and they followed it with a six -wicket win in the Super Four stage.

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Although the Men In Blue are favourites, Wahab Riaz feels "there will be additional pressure on India" when they face Pakistan in the final. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Wahab Riaz said: “They (Pakistan) have to hold their nerves against India. There is a lot of pressure obviously when Pakistan and India play. We basically play now in ICC events or the Asia Cup. But it is going to be a different ball game from my perspective now because you (Pakistan) have already played two games against India. Yes you couldn’t win both of those games, but now there will be additional pressure on India as well when they will be playing Pakistan in the final.

"And that’s the key and this is after 2012 or 2013 that these teams are playing at least three games in a tournament. It’s not a bilateral series but it is going to be the third game of the tournament, which also gives some edge to Pakistan. Probably from my perspective I think India will be under pressure now playing against Pakistan because they have to win three games in a row.

"So that could be a blessing in disguise as well because now the way Pakistan has played, the way they have come to the top, they have a chance now and I would love to see to be very honest," he said.

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Wahab Riaz also mentioned how it'll be crucial for Pakistan to strike Abhishek early, who has been one of the standout players in the tournament.

"We know that Abhishek is in one of the best forms and he is somebody who is really making India look very different in the powerplay and taking the game along. So it will be good to see if Pakistan is able to get wickets upfront in the powerplay and how the Indian batting reacts. So this was a very important win for Pakistan and now they have that confidence of getting wickets in the powerplay and if they do the same against India, at least two wickets in the powerplay, it will be a very different ball game.”