On September 23, Pakistan registered a five-wicket win to keep their T20 Asia Cup 2025 final hopes alive. Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi who went for plenty in the Super Four game against India, responded to captain Suryakumar Yadav’s post-match comments saying the rivalry between the two cricketing nations is non-existent.
Suryakumar had said that Pakistan have not been able to beat India in recent years, seven consecutive times to be exact. Afridi is confident about his team despite their lapses and went on to say that Pakistan have come to UAE to win the Asia Cup.
"Let him say what he wants. Neither has he reached the final yet, nor have we. We will see when the moment comes. It is our job to win. We have come to win the Asia Cup. We will do our best," Shaheen told the reporters.
After India’s six-wicket win at the Super Four stage, Suryakumar had asked the reporters to stop calling India-Pakistan games rivalry.
“You guys should stop asking questions about the rivalry between India-Pakistan. According to me, if the two teams are playing 15-20 games, and the scoreline is 7-7 or 8-7, then it is called a rivalry. 10-0, 10-1, I don't know what the stat is, but this is not a rivalry anymore. I think we played better cricket than them (Pakistan), and also from a bowling point of view,” Suryakumar Yadav said in the post-match press conference.
Shaheen on giving his performances
After a wicketless display against India where he was dominated by openers Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, Afridi claimed three wickets for 28 runs against Sri Lanka in the must-win encounter. Earlier, he was impressive with the bat, contributing with cameos down the order.
"Like the last two matches, the way you said about batting, my job is that whenever I get a position, I bowl. Batting, fielding, bowling, whatever I get, I give my 100%. Because it is obvious. Whenever I play, I try to give my 100%. Whether I am sick or injured, whatever I am, but it doesn't show outside. So my job is to raise the morale of the team and play all the cricket with energy," he added.
Pakistan will face Bangladesh in their last Super Four clash of the tournament at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 25. A win against Litton Das’ men is likely to assure their spot in the final.