KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Pakistan women’s team were bowled out for just 55 and lost to India by seven wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup.
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Mentor Wahab Riaz sparked widespread outrage by claiming Pakistan remain the best side in the tournament after the heavy defeat.
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Pakistan’s semi-final qualification now hangs by a thread, requiring them to beat Hong Kong in their final group match.
Crushed by 7 wickets, but still the best? Wahab Riaz faces massive backlash after making bizarre claim post India drubbing
Wahab Riaz delivered a statement for the ages on Saturday night after Pakistan women were rolled over for 55 runs at the Dubai International Stadium, and thereafter beaten by India in 11.4 overs with seven wickets to spare.
Despite the humiliating defeat, their mentor stepped up to the microphone afterwards and declared his side the best team in the Women’s Asia Cup and the internet, predictably, did not take this quietly.
Fatima Sana’s Pakistan side simply didn’t show up when it counted, and India strolled to the target barely breaking a sweat in the Dubai heat.
MORE: World reacts as India bowl out Pakistan for 55 runs in Women’s Asia Cup
Sana herself fought hard with the ball, removing Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana in what was a gutsy bowling performance. But three wickets couldn’t mask the fact that her batters had surrendered completely before India even came out to bat.
The result has left Pakistan’s semi-final hopes dangling by a thread. They must now beat Hong Kong in their final group fixture to stay in the tournament.
After the kind of performance that usually prompts apologies and soul-searching, Riaz took a different route entirely. He faced the press, backed his players to the hilt, and then dropped the line that sent social media into overdrive.
“I believe that all the players in our team are very skilful and they just need to trust themselves,” he said.
“Our next match is against Hong Kong. We will go back and discuss what we did wrong against India. We will try not to commit the same mistakes. I still believe Pakistan is the best side in this Asia Cup to lift the trophy because the conditions really suit us.”
MORE: No handshake: IND and PAK captains avoid shaking hands during Women’s Asia Cup game
Fans tear into Riaz as the reaction comes flooding in
The online response was swift and brutal, as Cricket fans across the subcontinent lined up to call out what they saw as a breathtaking disconnect from reality.
One fan, @AhmadRehanKhan, on X put it bluntly: “PAK W lost to IND W by 7 wickets, yet he still claims Pakistan is the ‘best team in the Asia Cup.’ Either this is pure delusion, or he genuinely thinks cricket fans are stupid. Zero accountability. Zero self-awareness. Peak incompetence.”
Another pulled no punches: “Wahab Riaz claiming Pakistan is the ‘BEST TEAM in the Asia Cup’ after getting bowled out for 55 against India W is the ultimate level of delulu. Zero self-awareness, peak incompetence, and total disrespect to fans’ intelligence. Absolute joke of a statement!”
@hashmi_shahid wrote: “Pakistan is the best side in this Asia Cup to lift the TROPHY,” optimism of highest degree by Pakistan women’s team head coach and mentor Wahab Riaz …Ma’a Sadqay ! #Pakistancricket.”
@AleehaPatrician wrote: “Actually he’s backing his chair otherwise there’s nothing positive….Pakistan cricket is continuously being thrashed by India. Either disband these teams or rebuild them. First thing first, get rid of these idiots.”
@DoctorofCricket said: “Mohsin Naqvi Sahab SYSTEM has collapsed, it needs a RESET like you yourself said. First step should be firing Aaqib Javed and WAHAB RIAZ.”
Positivity is fine, but accountability matters more after such defeats
There’s a thin line between backing your players publicly and insulting everyone’s intelligence, and Riaz crossed it on Saturday night. Coaches are supposed to protect their squad from outside noise, sure, but there’s a difference between shielding players and pretending a 55 all-out collapse didn’t happen.
What Pakistan women’s cricket actually needs isn’t empty optimism; it needs honest, uncomfortable conversations about batting depth, game awareness and selection.
MORE: Will India accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi?
Saying you’re the best team in the tournament when your side can’t face a full 20 overs against India isn’t confidence-building; it’s a signal that the people in charge aren’t reading the situation clearly. And if those at the top aren’t reading it clearly, how are the players supposed to know what actually needs to change?
The calls for Riaz to be removed aren’t rooted in cruelty and are more rooted in frustration from fans who’ve watched this pattern play out repeatedly. Pakistan cricket, men’s and women’s, keeps cycling through the same performances and the same post-match spin.
Until someone in a position of authority says “we got this badly wrong and here’s what we’re doing about it,” that cycle isn’t going to break. Optimism is a fine thing in sport, but delusion is something else entirely.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
