Pakistan given associate nation status amid fight with ICC

Former Indian chief selector Kris Srikkanth has launched a blistering attack on the Pakistan National Cricket Team and their head coach Mike Hesson ahead of the highly anticipated Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 21, in Dubai.

Surprisingly, Srikkanth compared Pakistan to a seventh-division side in a local Chennai league, as he highlighted their poor performance against India in their group match last week. Notably, Pakistan struggled to match India’s intensity in both batting and bowling, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the Men in Blue to a commanding seven-wicket victory on September 14.

Kris Srikkanth calls Pakistan a ‘Seventh-Division Team’ ahead of Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s

The Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan cricket team was unable to put up a fight against India. Srikkanth also targeted coach Mike Hesson for his pre-match statements, suggesting that Pakistan would gain nothing with him at the helm. The former Indian icon even predicted that Pakistan couldn’t deliver even under Mike Hesson.

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The 1983 World Cup winner has argued that the Men in Green should feel lucky just to play in a tournament of this stature, given their recent slump in major ICC events, including the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Pakistan shouldn't be playing with the main teams: Kris Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel, "It's a big thing for them that they are even allowed to play in such a prestigious tournament. Mike Hesson will be back with his statements tomorrow on how they are a very good team and they were unlucky in the last match against India. You'll go nowhere with Mike Hesson as your coach.”

Srikkanth claimed that Pakistan no longer poses a real threat to India and that the famous India-Pakistan rivalry is fading. He suggested that Pakistan should be moved to the Associate Nations level and that future encounters with India will no longer draw the massive crowds they once did.

He further noted, “Going forward, they shouldn't be playing with the main teams. Have them among the associate nations and bring a few of the others here. Pakistan should be removed from the top seven. From here on, India-Pakistan matches won't attract crowds. The India-Pakistan rivalry has become history. This Pakistan team will give us no scare. This is a seventh division team in a Chennai league.”

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Andy Pycroft to officiate India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match

Recently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Andy Pycroft as the match referee for the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 21.

This decision comes just days after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised concerns about Pycroft’s conduct during the group-stage match between the two sides on September 14.

Despite the controversy, the ICC has shown full confidence in Pycroft by giving him charge of one of the tournament’s biggest games.

While India is entering the clash as the unbeaten side, Pakistan won two tight games against the UAE and Oman to make it to the Super 4s of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.