Our Bureau
Dubai
After playing no cricket for the past 5 weeks, Team India will be returning to international cricket against the UAE this Wednesday, on September 10th, in their first match of the Asia Cup 2025. Former Pakistan pacer and cricket expert, Shoaib Akhtar has a hilarious take on the match and has stated that it is all but certain that India is going to win the match against UAE but the thing to watch out will be the team that Indian captain, Surya Kumar Yadav selects.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘Outside Edge’, the legendary pacer in his own witty style read out the names of Indian players from the squad one by one. He stated that it will be a headache for the captain and the management on who they are going to sit out in the first match.
“Achha, Abhishek bhi aa gaya? Bumrah bhi hai? Sanju Samson bhi hai, finally. Tilak bhi. Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh bhi hai, Shubman hai, Surya hai, Shivam Dube, apna Axar Patel. Yaar, yeh kis ko baahar bithaayenge? (Okay they got Abhishek? They got Bumrah too? They got Sanju Samsonn too? They got Tilak, Hardik, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Shubman, Surya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel as well? Who do they leave out?),” said Akhtar.
Akhtar further predicted that Team India will convincingly defeat the hosts there. But if the UAE manages to get the match close and lose by a smaller margin, unlike what Hong Kong did in the tournament opener losing to Afghanistan by 94 runs, they should consider it a victory.
“See, we know they are going to lose. I just feel that losing by a small margin would be a win for the UAE. This is my complaint against Hong Kong, who lost by 94 runs to Afghanistan last evening. You had to lose; at least lose close so that you get something. Show some fight,” he added.
