• Source:JND
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India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Final: Former paceman Shoaib Akhtar has called on the Pakistan national team to shed their inhibitions and play fearless cricket in the Asia Cup 2025 final against arch-rivals India, urging the side to disregard the aura surrounding the Men in Blue side, which has already destroyed the Salman Ali Agha-led side twice in the ongoing tournament.

Akhtar, also known as "Rawalpindi Express," believes Pakistan can turn the tables and emerge victorious in the highly anticipated summit clash, calling on Pakistan to focus on playing their natural game.

“We need to break out of this mindset, break down the hawa (aura) that has been built around the Indian team, and go in with the same attitude we had today against Bangladesh. Take India on. That’s the kind of attitude you need. And please remember we don’t need to go in thinking we have to bowl 20 overs. No! we need to get them out. When you go out to get them out, even India will realize they have to fight to score runs and that they won’t get any free runs,” Akhtar said on the Game On Hai show on PTV Sports.

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“Pakistan has to move beyond this, forget about India being the number one team. We have the number one fast bowler in Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf is as quick as anyone in the world today. So there’s no issue if you go in with this attitude," a former Pakistan pacer said.

Encounters between Pakistan and India have been marked by a heightened level of power, with pressures simmering over into heated exchanges on the field in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The Super 4s game was especially eye-catching for the verbal sparring between Pakistani pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi and Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.

Akhtar identified Abhishek Sharma as the key wicket Pakistan needs to claim, emphasising that the Indian opener's wicket in the first couple of overs could be the turning point in the match.

Abhishek has been in scintillating form, scoring charts with 248 runs from five matches, including a blistering 74 off 39 balls in the Super 4 encounter against Pakistan and an explosive 31 off 13 balls in the group stage match.

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“We have to get Abhishek out, that’s it. We can accept a boundary off a good length ball, accept a boundary off a good ball, or a sharp bouncer. As a bowler, I’m telling you, even a great like Ricky Ponting can miss a powerful bouncer or a good length ball. It’s not like Abhishek will do something amazing. He has mis-timed and mis-cued shots in this tournament," he added.

"The moment Abhishek gets out in the first two overs, mark my words, India will also be in trouble. The good starts they are getting right now, after which they are having a ball of a time, they will struggle as well if Abhishek gets out early. So there will be pressure on them," Akhtar said.