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Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticises Pakistan and Shaheen Shah Afridi ahead of the Asia Cup, backing India for a clear upper hand in the Sunday clash.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will be crucial for Pakistan against India (Picture credit: AFP)
Former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has said that Pakistan is a below-average side on all sides and even their ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is not anything deadly, adding that India hold a clear upper hand in the clash against Pakistan at the Asia Cup on Sunday.
India and their neighbours enter the tournament in outstanding T20I form. Before the ongoing Asia Cup, India had won 25 of their last 28 games, including last year’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan beat the West Indies in a bilateral series before winning the tri-series involving Afghanistan and the UAE.
“Pakistan is a below-average side with bat and ball. Even Shaheen Afridi isn’t anything deadly. Yes, they beat an Oman side full of players above 34-35. That team is full of uncles,” Srikkanth said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“So beating them (Oman) shows nothing. At my age, even I can captain Oman now. Even their bowling looked good against the Oman uncles. But we have to see how it is against Indian youngsters,” Srikkanth said.
Contrary to popular belief, India and Pakistan have been neck-to-neck in their last few T20I meetings.
Srikkanth slammed Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, calling him out for underachieving with any side he has coached.
“He keeps making bold statements. Whatever team he has coached has never done well. He coached RCB and they won nothing at that time. How are Pakistan going to do well under his coaching?” Srikkanth questioned.
“He (Hesson) would have just asked them to throw their bats at the ball with courage. Yesterday, the way Saim Ayub got out, I knew it was Mike Hesson’s influence. Mike Hesson must have batted like that only,” Srikkanth said.
With the T20 World Cup in India just four months away, there is no shortage of context to this contest. Yet, for the first time in years, an India-Pakistan clash, on a Sunday no less, seems to lack the usual high-pitched narrative that surrounds it.
September 14, 2025, 10:56 IST
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