Pakistan the best side in Asia Cup: Wahab Riaz unfazed by humiliating India defeat

Pakistan women’s team mentor Wahab Riaz remained defiant despite his side suffering a record defeat to archrivals India in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai on Saturday, insisting that Pakistan are still the best team in the tournament and favourites to lift the trophy.

Pakistan were bowled out for a paltry 55 in 18.1 overs after being sent in to bat in their second Group A match, registering their lowest-ever total in a recorded T20 international. India then chased down the target in just 9.1 overs to secure a commanding seven-wicket victory and top the group standings with three consecutive wins.

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The defeat was Pakistan’s fifth successive loss to India in women’s T20 internationals.

Yet Riaz remained optimistic about his team’s prospects.

“I believe that all the players in our team are very skilful, and they just need to trust themselves. Our next match is against Hong Kong. We will go back and discuss what we did wrong against India. We won’t commit the same mistakes,” Riaz told reporters after the match.

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“I still believe Pakistan is the best side in this Asia Cup to lift the trophy because the conditions really suit us.”

Pakistan, playing their 200th WT20I, had made a promising start after reaching 27 without loss in the fifth over. However, the introduction of India’s spinners triggered a dramatic collapse, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals as Pakistan lost their last 10 wickets for just 28 runs.

Their total of 55 was the lowest in Pakistan women’s T20I history, surpassing their previous low of 56, which came against New Zealand in Dubai during last year’s T20 World Cup.

India’s bowlers exploited the slow conditions effectively, while Pakistan’s batters struggled to find answers once the spinners began to exert pressure.

Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir had earlier criticised the team management for making wholesale changes to the Asia Cup squad, with seven players left out of the tournament squad.

Riaz, however, defended the decision, saying the changes were part of a long-term rebuilding process aimed at preparing the team for future global tournaments.

“Sana Mir has her own opinion. I have nothing to do with that opinion. We have made changes with the future in mind,” he said.

“The players who were playing before, they have played a lot of World Cups and Asia Cups but we weren't getting the results. So it was time to go with new faces and bring new girls into the mix to build the team for the upcoming tournaments.”

Pakistan will now turn their attention to their next Group A fixture against Hong Kong, with Riaz insisting that the heavy defeat to India will not derail their campaign.