ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s path to the Asia Cup 2025 final has become more complicated following their defeat to India in the Super Four clash. Although Pakistan remains in contention, their qualification now depends heavily on net run rate (NRR) and the outcomes of other teams’ matches.
Even if Pakistan wins their remaining two fixtures, it might not be enough to secure a spot in the final. In one possible scenario, if India wins all three of their Super Four matches and Pakistan defeats Bangladesh but loses to Sri Lanka, India would advance with three wins, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh would each have one win, making NRR the deciding factor for the second finalist.
Another scenario could see Pakistan beating both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, while India defeats Sri Lanka and Bangladesh upsets India. In this case, three teams would have two wins each, again leading to NRR determining who qualifies for the final.
The simplest path for Pakistan to the final would be if both Pakistan and India win all of their remaining fixtures. In this case, India would have three wins, Pakistan two, Bangladesh one, and Sri Lanka none, setting up a straightforward qualification for both.
However, Pakistan’s task has been made tougher by their recent defeat to India. In their Super Four encounter in Dubai, Pakistan posted a total of 171-5, but India chased it down comfortably in 18.5 overs, winning by six wickets. Abhishek Sharma’s 74 off 39 and Shubman Gill’s 47 off 28 led India’s chase, further improving their NRR.
In the other Super Four match, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in a thrilling contest. Chasing 169, Bangladesh won by four wickets with just one ball to spare, thanks to half-centuries from Saif Hassan (61) and Towhid Hridoy (58). Mustafizur Rahman’s 3-20 helped them restrict Sri Lanka, who were bolstered by Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 64 off 37.
As a result, qualification pathways have opened up, with NRR set to play a crucial role in determining the final two teams.
Remaining fixtures:
- September 23: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (Abu Dhabi)
- September 24: India vs Bangladesh (Dubai)
- September 25: Pakistan vs Bangladesh (Dubai)
- September 26: India vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)
