Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif unleashed a fierce critique of his country’s “timid” batting display following their Super Four defeat to arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup. Latif expressed profound disappointment, telling TimesofIndia.com that the match “wasn’t enjoyable” due to Pakistan’s lack of aggression and intent in the middle overs. He highlighted their inability to hit a single boundary for a staggering 37 balls, questioning why they failed to attack when it was desperately needed.
Latif specifically called out Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat, who were involved in a slow 17-run partnership off 17 deliveries. Farhan contributed a mere 5 runs off 6 balls, while Talat managed 10 off 11. According to Latif, Pakistan was in a strong position at that point and should have opted for an aggressive approach. “Better to get out playing shots than waste time,” he asserted, lamenting that they squandered valuable overs by being overly cautious.
The veteran also directed criticism towards all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, whose 21 runs off 19 balls showed no urgency to accelerate the scoring rate. Latif concluded his harsh assessment by stating, “That’s why I don’t trust their batting or bowling,” underscoring his deep concern over the team’s overall performance philosophy.
This latest loss against India further solidifies India’s dominant position in the Asia Cup, with many observers now viewing the tournament as a race to determine who will challenge India in the final. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, in his post-match comments, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings but also pointed to some positives. He conceded that Pakistan could have added “10-15 more” runs after the 10-over mark, and that India’s strong powerplay batting proved to be the decisive factor.
Agha emphasized the need for tactical changes when bowlers are being expensive in T20s, while praising the efforts of Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, and fast bowler Haris Rauf. Looking ahead, India is set to face Bangladesh in Dubai, while Pakistan prepares for their crucial Super Four encounter against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.