“India humare baap thein aur baap rahenge.” This is how a Pakistani cricket fan lashed out at his team after it suffered the third and final defeat in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. What the man said next, we better not repeat, but his raw emotions captured exactly how the common Pakistani fan felt about the Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan to a much superior India. Whether celebs, former cricketers, or analysts, the feeling was the same.
While this time, no Pakistani fan ritualistically smashed their TV sets after the defeat, but their verbal barrage alone was enough to convey the heartbreak following the brutal rout.
And at the receiving end of Pakistani fans’ harshest attacks was tape-ball turner-turned leather-ball pacer Harris Rauf, who, after conceding 13 runs an over, was made match ka mujrim.
Pakistani journalist-columnist Umair Javed said, “It is truly exhausting to share a country with Haris Rauf”.
“Haris Rauf has cost us matches in the last over so many times, he should not have been given the ball. Even against the US in the 2022 World Cup, he couldn’t defend. What do we do with him?” asked a visibly disturbed Mohammad Yousuf, former Pakistani captain and coach.
INDIA THOROUGHLY DOMINATED PAKISTAN IN ASIA CUP
In the 2025 Asia Cup, India dominated Pakistan in all three encounters, winning the Group A clash by seven wickets, the Super Four match by six wickets, and the final by five wickets to claim their ninth title. Indian players, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, and Tilak Varma collectively dismantled Pakistan’s batting and powered India’s chases.
Off the field, tensions were high with no post-match handshakes, as Haris Rauf’s “6-0” taunt, Salman Ali Agha’s AK-47 gesture, Suryakumar Yadav’s alleged political stance, and the chaotic trophy ceremony, where PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi eloped with the trophy, kept the tournament mired in controversies.
YOUR LEGS STARTED TREMBLING: PAKISTANIS SLAM ASIA CUP TEAM
Slamming captain Salman Ali Agha, former Pakistani pacer Tanveer Ahmed said, “Salman Ali Agha as captain? Nobody knows where he came from. He can’t bat, he can’t do anything. How many runs did he score? Just eight.”
Controversies apart, what has gone viral after Pakistan’s defeat, is a collective disappointment towards the Pakistani team. It was much like the feeling they had given to their team and players, reminiscent of Ramadhir Singh’s line from ‘Gangs of Wasseypur 2’: “Beta, tumse na ho payega hume tumhare lakshan bilkul sahi nahi lag rahe hain. Tumse na ho payega“.
