When facing bitter rivals India, his team frequently lets their emotions get the better of them. Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif feels that this weakness has cost them important games in recent years.
Political concerns have prevented the two neighbors from playing bilateral cricket for more than ten years, limiting their matches to ICC and ACC competitions. India has won 12 of the 15 games that have been played in the rivalry over the last ten years, making it mainly one-sided.
“We get emotional or hyper and try to do everything in one go. We don’t take the games deep against India and because of this, Pakistan lose most of the time,” Latif said in an interview with PTI Videos.
“India on the other hand play according to the pitch and match situation and that’s why they succeed,” added the former wicketkeeper-batter.
On Sunday, the two nations will play their first Asia Cup group A encounter against one another, reigniting their rivalry.
Latif believes that India is currently the more complete team because to their ability to maintain composure, supported by Hardik Pandya’s finishing abilities, the balance offered by Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson, and Jasprit Bumrah’s unparalleled accuracy.
“Hardik Pandya is a dangerous player. The players in the middle or those who come below can change the game. Pandya has not done it once but many times, which is amazing and that’s why he’s called the X-factor. He can change the game completely,” Latif said.
“Players like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Surya Kumar Yadav bring balance, Bumrah in bowling is a huge asset. Overall, it’s a very good team,” he said.
Bumrah is still the bowler Latif believes has the ability to tip the scales.
“As far as bowling is concerned, accuracy is more. In T20ls, the nerves and skills of Indians work better during the game,” he added.
India won by four wickets off the last ball in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne thanks to Virat Kohli’s undefeated 82.
India defeated Pakistan by 228 runs in Colombo during the Asia Cup a year later, and their Super Four match was rained out.
India defended just 119 runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA, but Bumrah’s three wickets sealed a six-run victory.
‘There is pressure on Pakistan which they have been carrying for the last 30 years. So maybe India will try to take advantage of it,” Latif admitted.
He did, however, draw attention to India’s potential weakness—that they haven’t played many Twenty20 matches recently.
“The only disadvantage in India is that they have not played T20Is. They must be playing warm-up matches or practicing. But they have not played any match. This may be a disadvantage,” Latif said.
Latif believes that Pakistan’s experience playing a triangular series on challenging spinning surfaces could help them adjust more rapidly.
The team boasts a number of youthful players under new captain Salman Ali Agha, but they still have a core group that made their debuts earlier in the decade.
“Our team is the same. I can say that there are three new players. Salman Ali Agha, who has just recently come. Saim Ayub’s debut in 2024. Hassan Nawaz. The rest are players from 2021, 2018, 2016.
“We also have a new captain and you can say that Pakistan has an advantage,” he said.
Sahibzada Farhan might be Pakistan’s surprise gift, according to Latif.
“He has been topping the T20 for the last 3-4 years. He has scored around 1000 runs. He has scored 4-5 centuries last season So he has brought himself back.
“The good thing about him is that he plays T20 cricket the way it should be played. He follows the role given to him. He doesn’t play for himself. He tries to get momentum in the first 10-12 overs and that’s been his success mantra.”
He also noted that Hassan Nawaz, a young batter, has the potential to shock India.
“Hassan Nawaz is a dangerous player and does not wait for a bad ball. If he hits a good ball, then the bowler comes under pressure.”
