Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the Asia Cup 2025 final are alive, but the road ahead is tricky. Their defeat to India in the Super Four stage has left them depending not only on victories but also on the net run rate (NRR).
In Sunday’s high-voltage clash in Dubai, Pakistan posted 171–5, but India chased down the target in just 18.5 overs. The loss dented Pakistan’s NRR and gave India a stronger position in the points table. Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 74 off 39 balls and Shubman Gill’s quick 47 off 28 ensured India’s six-wicket win.
Elsewhere, Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in a nail-biter. Chasing 169, they crossed the line with one ball left, thanks to Saif Hassan (61) and Towhid Hridoy (58). Mustafizur Rahman starred with the ball, while Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 64 went in vain. This result has now made the Super Four stage wide open.
For Pakistan, several possibilities remain:
- If they beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, their chances rise but results of other matches will still matter.
- If they lose one of those games, qualification could still be possible, but NRR would become the deciding factor.
- The simplest path: both India and Pakistan win all their remaining fixtures. That would put the two arch-rivals in the final on September 26.
With matches coming thick and fast, every run and every over could shape the final lineup. Pakistan’s challenge is not just about winning, it’s about winning convincingly to stay ahead in the NRR race.
