Despite a commanding 93-run win over Oman in their Asia Cup 2025 opener, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram voiced serious concerns about Pakistan’s batting performance. While the victory offered a much-needed morale boost, Akram warned that inconsistencies at the top and lapses in momentum could spell trouble in tougher matches ahead, especially the looming clash with India.
Pakistan’s innings vs Oman had bright moments. Promoted up the order, Mohammad Haris led the charge with a fluent 66 off 43 balls, punctuated by seven fours and three sixes. He stitched together an 85-run partnership with Sahibzada Farhan (29), which steadied the innings after an early wobble. That stand looked to have given Pakistan a solid platform. However, what followed made Akram uneasy.
He was particularly critical of how Pakistan collapsed from 89/1 to 102/4 in just a dozen balls after Farhan’s dismissal. “Soon, I went for a quick bite, and when I came back, they were 3 wickets down,” Akram joked, but not without making a serious point. The sudden mini-collapse exposed how fragile the batting looked once one wicket fell. Early success didn’t translate into sustained pressure or a genuinely big first innings score.
Akram also questioned the decision-making in match situations. He pointed out that while taking advantage of unfamiliar bowlers is important, you cannot lose focus just after positive starts. Pakistan’s openers, especially Saim Ayub, who fell for a duck, were unable to lay food for the rest of the batting order. That early wicket put Roshan Sharma’s men under pressure, which then peaked midway through their innings as dot balls mounted and regular wickets piled up.
Another point Akram raised was the balance of the batting order. With Haris promoted to No. 3, Fakhar Zaman was pushed down the order to No. 4. Akram implied that shifting roles, especially for players used to opening, can disturb their rhythm and mindset. Zaman’s unfamiliarity at No. 4, according to Akram, is something the management must carefully manage to avoid exposing more weaknesses.
Despite those concerns, Akram acknowledged positives. Haris’s knock was courageous and showed character. Recovering after losing the openers and putting up 160 was respectable. With only one frontline fast bowler—Shaheen Shah Afridi—on display against Oman, the fact that the batting put together some resistance was encouraging. But Akram stressed this performance is not enough; complacency could be dangerous in matches where the opposition bowling is stronger or more varied.
With India next on the calendar, Akram’s message seems directed squarely at preparing Pakistan to up their game. The match against India will be far less forgiving; early wickets will be punished, and failures to build on starts could cost big. Akram’s criticism implies Pakistan must sharpen their top order, be more judicious in shot selection, rotate strike better, and build partnerships rather than relying on individual heroics.
In sum, while the win over Oman gave Pakistan a strong start and demonstrated their ability to dominate with bowling and seize control, Wasim Akram believes their batting still has worrying cracks. He wants to see consistency, especially from openers and in early overs, if Pakistan are to really challenge favourites like India. This win was good—but it won’t be sufficient on its own when the stakes are higher.
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