Afghanistan a Bigger Threat Than Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025, Says Irfan Pathan

Former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan has suggested that Afghanistan could present a greater challenge to India in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025, surpassing the threat posed by traditional rivals, Pakistan.

The competition, scheduled to commence on September 9 in the UAE, will see India competing in a group alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman. Each nation will face the others once, with the top two advancing to the Super Four stage.

Discussing the conditions anticipated in Dubai, Pathan noted that Afghanistan’s spin-dominated bowling attack could flourish on slower-paced pitches.

“I believe Afghanistan is the team India should be most cautious of. If the pitches favor spin, their bowling unit becomes exceptionally dangerous,” Pathan commented.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s prospects, the former cricketer expressed the view that the Pakistani team is currently undergoing a period of reconstruction.

“Pakistan, in my opinion, is still in the process of rebuilding. They are in search of strong leadership and players who can consistently perform at the top of the batting order,” he elaborated.

Pathan also addressed concerns about India’s limited exposure to T20I matches recently, with several key players either resting or participating in red-ball cricket, and whether this could negatively affect their preparations.

However, he emphasized that the enhanced facilities at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru (formerly the NCA) ensure that players maintain a high level of readiness.

“Today, Indian cricketers stay connected to the game because of the robust infrastructure at the NCA. Contracted players have constant access to training, fitness assessments, and practice facilities. Match simulations and continuous coaching support mean they are always close to peak performance levels,” Pathan explained.

He acknowledged that India might begin the tournament slightly underprepared but asserted that this would not be a lasting issue.

“Initially, it might have some impact. However, as the tournament progresses, I don’t anticipate any significant problems,” he stated.

India is set to begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai, followed by a highly anticipated match against Pakistan on September 14 at the same location. Their final group stage match will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong, with the top two teams from each group proceeding to the Super Four stage. The final is scheduled for September 28.

India’s Squad for Asia Cup 2025:

Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson.

Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal.