Watch- Afghanistan gets 2nd Best Asian Team title by Pakistan journalist openly; Pakistan captain reacts
Table of Contents
Pakistan has had to face humiliation once again on the cricket map. A Pakistani journalist labeled Afghanistan as Asia's 2nd best team after India in front of the Pakistan captain, Salman Ali Agha. The incident took place at the pre-series press conference of the UAE T20I Tri-Series before the Asia Cup 2025.
India, the current T20 World Champions who won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, have been crowned as the favourites of the upcoming Asia Cup. This will be the first time Suryakumar Yadav leads India in a multi-team tournament.
The UAE will be hosting the Asia Cup 2025, though the hosting rights have been given to the Indian side since they had to adopt a hybrid model due to their deal with the PCB signed just before the Champions Trophy. India featured in the UAE in all their Champions Trophy games and emerged as the winners of the tournament in 2025.
Salman Ali Agha's shocking reaction to Afghanistan being named the second-best side
Recently, just before the tri-series began, the three captains were in a press release, which marked the presence of Salman Ali Agha for Pakistan, Muhammed Waseem for UAE, and Rashid Khan for Afghanistan.
These three players would also probably be seen as the skipper for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, though the host side has yet to reveal its squad. Amid the talks, a reporter claimed Afghanistan as the second-favourite side of the Asia Cup.
The reporter claimed, "Afghanistan has played very well in recent times and has been claimed as Asia's second-best team."
Agha’s reaction when a journalist in PC called Afghanistan the second best team
— 𝐀. (@was_abdd) August 28, 2025
in Asia 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/vKd4jQImNn
To this, the Pakistan skipper, Salman Agha, who was also in the same conference, raised his eyebrows and had a sarcastic smile on his face, seemingly surprised by the reduced stature of Pakistan cricket.
Tri-Series begins ahead of the Asia Cup 2025
The Tri-series begins ahead of the Asia Cup action in the UAE. Pakistan cricket made some readjustments to their plans of hosting the Afghans for the bilateral series and instead proposed the UAE for hosting a tri-series between the three nations.
This was marked as a practice for the Pakistan side, who would then take on the other teams in the Asia Cup tournament, where they have been placed alongside archrivals India, hosts UAE, and the other side, Oman.
The tri-series begins on the 29th of August and will continue till the final, which has been scheduled to be played on the 7th of September. The series begins today with Pakistan and Afghanistan taking on each other.
Afghanistan or Sri Lanka, who will be the second favourites under UAE conditions? Pakistan sidelined forever
Many from the cricketing fraternity have claimed that the Afghan side, which has been dominating the recent band of cricket, is the second-best side from the Asian continent. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have not been the most convincing sides recently, especially in major ICC events.
While the Afghans were the semi-finalists of the previous T20 World Cup, they had also defeated the likes of greats like Australia and New Zealand. Some greats, as well as former Pakistani player Basit Ali, have claimed Sri Lanka as the second favourites after India.
This has totally omitted Pakistan as a dominating side for the Asia Cup 2025.
ALSO READ: Babar Azam picked in Pakistan Team before Asia Cup 2025 amid immense pressure
Tagged:
Pakistan National Cricket Team Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Afghanistan National Cricket Team UAE National Cricket Team India National Cricket Team Asia Cup Salman Ali Agha Rashid Khan
