Shaheen confident Pakistan can beat India if teams clash in Asia Cup final

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed confidence that his side can reach the Asia Cup final and defeat India if the arch-rivals face off again in the tournament.

Pakistan kept their hopes alive on Tuesday with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage, where Afridi returned figures of 3-28.

India and Pakistan have already met twice in this edition of the Asia Cup but have never contested a final against each other in the tournament’s history. First held in 1984, this is the 17th edition of the regional competition, being staged in the UAE in the Twenty20 format.

With Bangladesh set to face India on Wednesday and Pakistan on Thursday, the prospect of a high-profile India-Pakistan final in Dubai remains possible.

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Defending champions India have beaten Pakistan in both clashes at this year’s event and hold a dominant record overall, winning 12 of the 15 T20Is between the two sides, including seven straight wins since September 2022.

But Afridi insisted Pakistan were prepared. “Final tak na wo pahoche hain, na hum. Jab ayenge to dekh lenge. Humara kaam hai Asia Cup jitna [Neither they have reached the final nor have we. Once both teams get there, we will see. Our job is to win the Asia Cup],” Afridi told reporters after Tuesday’s match.

Earlier this week, India captain Suryakumar Yadav downplayed the traditional rivalry, saying India-Pakistan “is not a rivalry anymore.”