{"id":8981,"date":"2025-08-30T00:42:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T00:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/30\/afghanistan-asias-2nd-best-t20i-team-after-india-pakistan-captains-reaction-goes-viral-cricket-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T00:42:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T00:42:58","slug":"afghanistan-asias-2nd-best-t20i-team-after-india-pakistan-captains-reaction-goes-viral-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/30\/afghanistan-asias-2nd-best-t20i-team-after-india-pakistan-captains-reaction-goes-viral-cricket-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan Asia&#8217;s 2nd Best T20I Team After India? Pakistan Captain&#8217;s Reaction Goes Viral | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9536410\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">August 29, 2025, 18:34 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9536410\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1201702137 asubttl-schema\">Pakistan skipper Salman Agha wasn&#8217;t pleased with a remark that Afghanistan are now the second-best team in Asia after world cricket powerhouse India.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1201702137 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Salman Agha (left) and Rashid Khan (Screengrab)\" title=\"Salman Agha (left) and Rashid Khan (Screengrab)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1201702137\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Salman Agha (left) and Rashid Khan (Screengrab)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Are Afghanistan now the second-best T20I team in Asia after India?<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">A Pakistan journalist drew an interesting reaction from Pakistan T20I captain Salman Agha after suggesting that the Afghans have leapfrogged Men in Green as well as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to become the Indian team\u2019s closest Asian rivals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">Pakistan have been enduring one of their most disappointing runs across formats which includes a first-round exit from the T20 World Cup in the New York last year.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">Recently, the side underwent a series of changes in T20I setup, including dropping senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">While Pakistan is still the more experienced and fancied opponent, Afghanistan\u2019s rise into prominence and qualification to the semifinals of last year\u2019s biannual event has evoked suggestions that they may have surpassed their arch-rivals.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">Agha, however, didn\u2019t like the idea and expressed his dismay at it with a dismissive smirk while Hashmi asked his question to Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan in a joint press conference held on Thursday, August 28, ahead of the UAE T20I Tri-Series.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">The idea of not even being the third-best team in Asia bemused the Pakistan captain as well as the team\u2019s passionate followers. But the scribe later clarified that he based his judgment on the two teams\u2019 contrasting results at the T20 World Cup 2024.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">Afghanistan defeated New Zealand, Australia and Bangladesh in a spirited campaign to qualify for the top 4, whereas Pakistan suffered a painstaking defeat at the hands of co-host USA and were bettered by eventual champions India to exit the competition in the group stage itself.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Agha\u2019s men will be hoping to revive their fortunes and make a strong statement in the tri-series, which follows the marquee Asia Cup starting September 9.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"authorimg\" src=\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/cricketnext-staff-13125.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Cricketnext Staff<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that\u2019s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that\u2019s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext<!-- --> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1201702137 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricket\/\">cricket<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> Afghanistan Asia&#8217;s 2nd Best T20I Team After India? Pakistan Captain&#8217;s Reaction Goes Viral<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-1201702137 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricket\/afghanistan-asias-2nd-best-t20i-team-after-india-pakistan-captains-reaction-goes-viral-9536410.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:August 29, 2025, 18:34 IST Pakistan skipper Salman Agha wasn&#8217;t pleased with a remark that Afghanistan are now the second-best team in Asia after world cricket powerhouse India. Salman Agha (left) and Rashid Khan (Screengrab) Are Afghanistan now the second-best T20I team in Asia after India? A Pakistan journalist drew an interesting reaction from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8981"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8981\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}