Salman Ali Agha has sparked fresh debate after Pakistan’s 2025 Asia Cup final defeat to India, directly pointing to Haris Rauf’s performance as a turning point. The Pakistan captain suggested that the outcome might have swung the other way had he stuck with Abrar Ahmed instead.
Key takeaways
- Salman Ali Agha blamed Haris Rauf for Pakistan’s collapse in the Asia Cup final against India.
- Agha argued that continuing with Abrar Ahmed could have changed how the match unfolded.
- Rauf’s final-over and death-overs spells proved costly during India’s chase.
- Abrar Ahmed finished the chase with a crucial wicket of Sanju Samson and tight figures.
- The skipper also addressed the handshake controversy involving Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s captain.
How the final chase turned against Pakistan
Rauf’s spell started to unravel early, with the damage beginning in the eighth over. He conceded seven runs in that phase and was struck for a four by Sanju Samson.
In the 15th over, the right-arm pacer bled 17 runs as Dube punished him with a four. The next moments continued to go against Pakistan, with Tilak Varma also collecting boundaries off the same bowler—one four and then a six.
The pressure escalated further in the 18th over when Dube struck a six off Rauf. By then, Rauf had leaked 13 runs as India built momentum during the chase.
With India needing 10 runs in the final over, Rauf was tasked with defending the target. The over began with Tilak Varma striking a double, and it was followed by a six. Tilak then pulled the ball past the square region, and after that, he took a single to bring the scores level.
On the fourth ball, Rinku Singh sealed the chase, sending the ball past mid-on for a four. India reached the finish line to secure their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title.
Agha’s explanation and Abrar vs Rauf contrast
Speaking on the ARY podcast, Salman Ali Agha admitted that he and the team made several errors across a busy stretch since he began captaining. He said that, with time having passed, he can clearly reflect on the decisions that hurt Pakistan most.
He specifically singled out the Asia Cup final, saying that after a year as captain across two tournaments, he feels mistakes were inevitable—but that he wants to change at least one key call from the final. Agha’s point was that if he had continued with Abrar Ahmed, the result might not have gone the same way.
He also defended the selection logic while explaining the execution on the day. Agha noted that he gave Haris Rauf the ball because Rauf was Pakistan’s main bowler in that match, but added that the pacer couldn’t bowl effectively or carry out the plans properly. In his view, sticking with Abrar was the alternative that could have altered the game’s direction.
During India’s run chase, Abrar Ahmed removed Sanju Samson, who made 24, in a key breakthrough. Abrar ended with figures of 1/29 from four overs at an economy rate of 7.20.
Rauf, meanwhile, was Pakistan’s most expensive bowler. He finished with 0/50 from 3.4 overs, leaving Pakistan short as the chase progressed.
Handshake controversy addressed by the Pakistan captain
Agha also opened up on the Asia Cup handshake controversy. He pointed to the decision by India captain Suryakumar Yadav to decline the customary pre-match handshake with his Pakistani counterpart as a gesture of solidarity with families affected by the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people lost their lives.
