In an exclusive interview from Dubai, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has unequivocally declared India as the strong favorites to triumph in their highly anticipated Super Four encounter against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup. As the two cricketing rivals prepare to face off once more this Sunday, the atmosphere is expected to be electrifying at the Dubai International Stadium.
Latif noted the escalating tensions, stating, “There is a lot of tension between India and Pakistan, and now it has reached the ground as well, which was not the case earlier.” The lead-up to the match has been fraught with drama, including Pakistan’s second consecutive cancellation of their pre-match press conference, the reasons for which remain unclear, adding to the tournament’s intrigue.
While acknowledging the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where any team can clinch victory on a given day, Latif conceded that India possesses overwhelming strength. “In T20, anything can happen. Oman played very well yesterday. It’s difficult to pick favorites in T20Is. In ODIs and Tests, you can say who is favorite and who is not. But in T20Is, you can’t. But if we look in hindsight, India is a strong team,” he elaborated.
Latif attributed India’s sustained dominance across all formats to its robust domestic cricket structure, particularly praising the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“The competition Indian players experience in the IPL is of exceptionally high quality. In contrast, Pakistan’s players participate in the PSL. There is a massive gulf of difference between the IPL and PSL,” he asserted. He further pointed out the experience gap within the Indian squad, even with some senior players transitioning out. “The difference between the two sides is also the experience. This Indian team, despite being somewhat inexperienced with legends like Rohit, Virat, and Jadeja moving on, has played some high-quality cricket.”
Latif minced no words when describing Pakistan’s current state, calling them a “weak team” primarily due to their vulnerable batting order. This fragility has been evident through their consistently poor starts in the tournament. Opener Saim Ayub, for instance, has yet to score, registering three ducks. Captain Salman Ali Agha has also struggled, with scores of 0, 3, and 20 in their three matches. Sahibzada Farhan, initially selected for his aggressive approach, appears completely out of touch, while Hasan Nawaz, once a promising opener, is now being relegated to a lower-order role at positions five or six.
“Pakistan looks like a weak team and everyone can see it. But you can’t write them off as well. It is 75-25 to India. India are favourites,” Latif reiterated. He emphasized the widespread batting struggles: “You sometimes see one player not in form, but for Pakistan, the scenario is different. Saim Ayub is not in form, captain Salman Ali Agha is not in form, Mohammad Haris is struggling, Sahibzada Farhan is not looking in touch, Hasan Nawaz is struggling. If five of the top six batters are struggling, then it gets difficult.”
Ultimately, Latif believes Pakistan’s only path to victory against India lies in an extraordinary individual performance. “Only individual brilliance can help Pakistan win. If someone has that kind of a day, then it’s fine. No doubt India is a very strong team and it will be difficult for Pakistan to register a win against India,” he concluded, underscoring the daunting challenge ahead for his former team.