Pakistan’s batting performance sparked mixed reactions from fans after India put them in to bat first during their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four encounter on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. The innings witnessed moments of brilliance, frustration, and controversy, leaving supporters divided in their opinions.
The team management made a bold move by promoting senior batter Fakhar Zaman to open the innings alongside Sahibzada Farhan. The decision came after regular opener Saim Ayub endured a miserable group stage, failing to score a single run across all three matches. The experiment, however, did not go as planned. Fakhar was dismissed early in the innings, falling victim to a third-umpire decision that many fans and pundits deemed unfair. His departure, at 21 runs in just 2.3 overs, left Pakistan in a tricky position.
Despite the early setback, Sahibzada Farhan rose to the occasion and took charge of the innings. Partnering with the out-of-form Saim Ayub, he counterattacked the Indian bowlers with a blend of clean hitting and quick running between the wickets. Together, the duo forged a solid 72-run stand off just 49 deliveries, propelling Pakistan to 93 runs in 10.2 overs. During this period, Pakistan notched up their highest-ever powerplay score against India in T20I cricket, reaching 55 for one. This aggressive start was built on nine crisp boundaries, sharp singles, well-run doubles, and even a three-run dash that thrilled fans.
Saim’s contribution was brief but impactful, as he struck 21 off 14 balls before falling to Shivam Dube. His dismissal slowed down the momentum, though Farhan continued to anchor the innings. The right-hander played a crucial knock of 58 from 45 balls, featuring five fours and three towering sixes. His fluent innings made him the standout performer for Pakistan, but he too succumbed to Dube, whose medium pace surprisingly rattled the Pakistani batters. Some fans were quick to criticize the team for surviving against frontline seamers yet gifting away wickets to a part-time bowler.
The dismissal of Farhan triggered a noticeable slowdown in Pakistan’s scoring rate. The middle order struggled to maintain the rhythm, with skipper Salman Agha’s run-out sparking anger among supporters who felt it was a careless moment in an otherwise steady innings. While Pakistan’s batters lost momentum during the middle overs, they managed to reignite some energy towards the death.
All-rounder Faheem Ashraf provided a timely cameo in the final overs, remaining unbeaten on 20 runs. His innings, decorated with a boundary and two towering sixes, ensured Pakistan crossed the 170-mark. The Green Shirts eventually closed their innings at 171 for five in their allotted 20 overs.
Reactions to Pakistan’s batting were polarized. Many praised the aggressive intent shown in the powerplay and highlighted Farhan’s standout performance. Others, however, lamented the lack of consistency in the middle overs, the careless dismissals, and the inability to fully capitalize on India’s sloppy fielding, which included dropped catches.
In the end, Pakistan’s total of 171 set the stage for a competitive contest, but the mixed emotions among fans reflected both optimism and frustration over the team’s batting approach.
