Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha has sent a strong message to rivals India after leading his side to a commanding 93-run victory over Oman in the Asia Cup 2025. The all-rounder, captaining in a high-pressure tournament, declared that if Pakistan execute their plans properly, they are capable of beating any side in the world — including India. His words have added extra spice to the upcoming India–Pakistan clash, one of the most anticipated matches of the competition.
Pakistan were clinical against Oman. Batting first, they posted 160 for 7, a total anchored by Mohammad Haris’s fluent half-century. Haris, who has been in excellent form, showed patience early before accelerating to lift the innings after a shaky start. Contributions from the lower middle order helped Pakistan reach what looked like a competitive score on a two-paced surface in Abu Dhabi.
With the ball, Pakistan were ruthless. Oman never got going and were bowled out for 67 in just 16.4 overs. The bowlers worked in unison — Saim Ayub, Faheem Ashraf, and Sufiyan Muqeem each picked up two wickets, while Shaheen Afridi and the spinners applied relentless pressure. The fielding unit also looked sharp, ensuring Oman were never allowed to build a partnership big enough to threaten Pakistan’s dominance.
After the match, Salman Ali Agha praised his bowlers for setting the tone but was quick to point out that Pakistan still have areas to improve. He admitted the team could have pushed closer to 180 with the bat but was satisfied with the way the players adjusted to conditions. “If we can execute our plans for a long enough period, we are good enough to beat any team, including India,” he said, calling on his side to maintain intensity and discipline going forward.
Agha’s comments reflect the growing confidence in the Pakistan camp, which has been steadily building momentum over the past couple of months. The side has shown improvement in both batting depth and bowling consistency, and this win further strengthens their net run rate — a crucial factor in Asia Cup group stages.
The upcoming clash against India now takes on even more significance. India have also started their campaign strongly, thrashing UAE with record pace in their opening match, and will go into the contest as favourites on paper. But Pakistan’s morale-boosting victory and their captain’s fighting words suggest they will not be overawed by the occasion.
For Pakistan, the key will be addressing the slight wobbles at the top of the order, ensuring partnerships build steadily before unleashing their power hitters. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, already looks tournament-ready.
Salman Ali Agha’s rallying cry sets the stage perfectly: Pakistan believe they are contenders, not outsiders. The cricketing world now waits to see if they can back up their captain’s bold words when the rivalry match begins.
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