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Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed his excitement over the prospect of Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed going up against India’s batting line-up in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 clash.
The two arch-rivals meet on September 14 in Dubai in what promises to be the most anticipated fixture of the tournament.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised Abrar’s skillset but cautioned that he will face a major test against India’s in-form batters.
“I am definitely looking forward to the contest between Abrar Ahmed and our Indian team,” he said.
“In modern-day cricket, it’s difficult to bowl as slowly as he does, but recently, Abrar produced a match-winning performance by picking up four wickets against the UAE. He bowls googlies, carrom balls, and other variations.
“Still, he must find a way to succeed against India.
“Another challenge is that Pakistani players don’t get the opportunity to play against Indians, as they are not part of the IPL. For Abrar, this will be a learning curve, but he has all the tools required.”
Ravichandran Ashwin also highlighted Sahibzada Farhan’s fearless approach at the top of the order, likening him to India’s Abhishek Sharma.
“Pakistan has exceptional talent. One such player is Sahibzada Farhan, who plays in a style similar to Abhishek Sharma, attacking bowlers right from the start,” he noted.
“With Mike Hesson now in charge and Salman Ali Agha leading as captain, Pakistan is clearly trying to embrace a more explosive brand of cricket.”
He pointed out that the side’s new model leans heavily on aggressive batters such as Fakhar Zaman, Haris, and Saim Ayub.
“Personally, I believe Fakhar is the best batter in the Pakistan side. Then there’s Saim Ayub, who also contributes with the ball,” he added.
“But the team often collapses after strong starts, sometimes finding themselves 80 for 5 before scrambling to 140. To really challenge India, you need at least 180.”
Looking at the bigger picture, the veteran off-spinner was blunt about India’s prospects.
“The best-case scenario for any team is to bowl first and restrict India to a modest score. But honestly, I don’t think any side really stands a chance against India in this Asia Cup,” he concluded.
READ: India rewrite record books with crushing victory over UAE
