The India vs Pakistan Super 4 match in the Asia Cup 2025 is coming up, and the excitement is already building.
But former India cricketer and selector Kris Srikkanth has poured fuel on the fire with some harsh words for Pakistan.
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He believes the team is nowhere near the standard of top cricketing nations and described them as a “seventh division team.”
Srikkanth’s blunt comments come after Pakistan’s inconsistent performances in the tournament, highlighting their struggles against strong teams like India.
Why does Kris Srikkanth think Pakistan is weak?
Pakistan’s performance in this Asia Cup has been underwhelming. They started with an easy win over Oman, but India crushed them in the second game. Even against the UAE, Pakistan struggled and barely made it through to the Super 4s.
On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth questioned why Pakistan is even playing against the top teams.
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"Going forward, Pakistan shouldn't be playing with the main teams. Have them among the Associate nations and bring a few of the others there here. It's a big thing for Pakistan that they are even allowed to play in such a prestigious tournament," said Srikkanth.
Srikkanth also commented on the historic India-Pakistan rivalry. He said the intense battles of the past are now gone. He argued that Pakistan lacks the “fear factor” needed to compete at the highest level.
"Pakistan should be removed from the top seven. From hereon, India-Pakistan matches won't attract crowds. India-Pakistan rivalry has become history. This Pakistan team will give us no scare. This is a seventh division team in a Chennai league," he added.
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Can Pakistan succeed under coach Mike Hesson?
Srikkanth didn’t spare Pakistan’s coach either. He criticized Mike Hesson, claiming the team’s direction under him is unlikely to improve.
“Mike Hesson will be back with his statements on how they are a very good team and were unlucky in the last match against India. You’ll go nowhere with Hesson as your coach,” Srikkanth stated.
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