The Asia Cup has been a cricketing battleground where nations from the continent come together to compete for glory. Pakistan, a cricketing powerhouse, has had its fair share of triumphs and tribulations in the tournament’s history. While they have tasted victory on numerous occasions, they have also experienced some heart-wrenching losses that linger in the memories of fans. In this article, we will delve into Pakistan’s three biggest losses in Asia Cup history.
1. India vs Pakistan – Asia Cup – 2018
Pakistan’s cricketing rivalry with India is legendary, and any encounter between the two teams is a high-octane spectacle. The 2018 Asia Cup witnessed an intense Super Four match between Pakistan and India in Dubai. defending a modest target of 238 runs, Pakistan’s bowling lineup crumbled under the pressure of India’s formidable top order.
Pakistan was never able to establish its footing in this match. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan added 210 runs for the first wicket and completely put Pakistan on the backfoot. Batting first, Pakistan could set a target of only 238 runs for India, thanks to Shoaib Malik’s 78 runs and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s 44 runs. For India, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav took 2 wickets each.
India’s only wicket fell in the form of runout and all Pakistani bowlers remained wicketless.
2. India vs Pakistan – Asia Cup 2016
The clash between Pakistan and India in any cricket tournament is always a high-stakes affair, and the Asia Cup 2016 was no different. The arch-rivals met on February 27, 2016, in a much-anticipated match. Pakistan batted first and managed to put up a modest total of 83 runs for the loss of all their wickets. In response, India chased down the target comfortably in just 15.3 overs with 5 wickets in hand.
Pakistan batted first and struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. They managed to score only 83 runs in their innings, with Sarfaraz Ahmed being the top scorer with 25 runs. India’s bowlers, led by Hardik Pandya’s (3/8) excellent performance, put up a brilliant display.
In reply, India faced some early hiccups but managed to chase down the target with 5 wickets to spare. Virat Kohli was the star of the innings, scoring an unbeaten 49 runs. India’s victory was celebrated with great enthusiasm by their fans, while Pakistan was left to rue missed opportunities.
3.India vs Pakistan – Asia Cup 2023
In the Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan faced India in a highly anticipated clash in super four which went for two days due 10th September and 11th September to rain. Unfortunately for Pakistan, they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals.
India’s dominance was evident in all facets of the game. Their batsmen Virat Kohli and KL Rahul with brilliant centuries played with confidence, posting a formidable total of 357 runs, while their bowlers dismantled the Pakistani batting lineup with the total of just 128 runs and pakistan was 228 runs short of achieve the target this is biggest defeat of Pakistan against India.
The pressure of the big occasion seemed to get to the Pakistani players, and they struggled to cope with the intensity of the match. This loss not only impacted Pakistan’s chances in the tournament but also added another chapter to India’s historical dominance in cricketing clashes between the two nations.
Pakistan bowlers which are considered as world’s best were only able to took 2 wickets of indian inning and while chasing Fakhar Zamaan is the top scorer with 27 runs.