A retired Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram insulted Haris Rauf after the conclusion of the 2025 final of the Asian Cup in Dubai in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium between India and Pakistan. Pakistan lost the final game to their arch-rivals when Rauf failed to strike even a single wicket in 50 of his 3.4 overs.
Akram did not mince words when analyzing Pakistan’s performance in the summit game. He stumbled onto Rauf’s performance when looking over the different themes where Pakistan failed that evening and felt compelled to express his dissatisfaction.
“He (Rauf) is a run machine, especially against India,” stated Akram while dissecting Pakistan’s five-wicket loss to the Men in Blue while speaking to Sony Sports.
Suryakumar Yadav asked Pakistan to bat first, and the team was knocked out for 146 in 19.1 overs. Fakhar Zaman (46 off 35) and Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) shared the first wicket in an 84-run partnership. But in the second half of their innings, the Green Shirts’ fortunes took a turn for the worst as the Indian spinners suffocated them, taking eight of the ten wickets that Pakistan had claimed.
It was Kuldeep Yadav who stole the show (4/30 in 4 overs). In his last over, the left-arm wrist-spinner hit three balls to totally upset the opposition and leave them with no way back.
Regarding the run-chase, during the powerplay, Pakistan had India by the scruff of their neck. By the conclusion of six overs, they had lowered the Indians to 36/3. It appeared that Pakistan had a good chance of winning the championship at the halfway point, but India had everything to do with the 89 needed to win.
To get his team through, Tilak Varma played a fantastic knock of 69 off 53. Sanju Samson first backed him, followed by Shivam Dube. Tilak’s mature knock earned him the Player of the Match honor, which he deserved.
