IND vs PAK / Pakistan is in awe after seeing Abhishek's innings, former captain told why they don't have such players

IND vs PAK: In the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian cricket team has to play its second match against arch-rival Pakistan on September 14 at the Dubai ground. Before this high-voltage match, there is a lot of discussion in Pakistan about the young opener of the Indian team, Abhishek Sharma. Occupying the number-1 position in the ICC T20 batting rankings, Abhishek has shown such a threat in his short career that the fear of his name is clearly visible in Pakistani cricket circles.

In the first match played against UAE recently, Abhishek may have played an innings of only 30 runs, but his aggressive batting and fearless style showed Pakistan the trailer of a big film. His innings not only boosted the enthusiasm of Indian fans, but also fueled his discussion among Pakistani cricket pundits and former players.

Shoaib Malik's statement: Revealed on Abhishek's batting

In a panel discussion after India's match against UAE on Pakistan's PTV Sports, former Pakistani captain Shoaib Malik was asked a question about Abhishek Sharma. Praising Abhishek, Malik said,

"You look at Abhishek Sharma's statistics. Even though he has played only 18 T20 International matches so far, he has already scored 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries. His strike rate is 193, which shows his aggression. It is not that our players cannot bat like this, but their lack of confidence is clearly visible. The reason for this is that they do not know whether they will get a chance to play after the next two matches or not. You cannot produce players in this way."

Malik further clarified his point and said that behind the success of a player like Abhishek is the trust and stability of the Indian team management, which gives him the freedom to play without any pressure.

Pakistan Cricket Board's flaws exposed

Shoaib Malik also raised questions on the functioning of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in his statement. He said,

"Our system is not right. We are not able to get the best out of our old players. Players are dropped from the series without any solid reason, which creates a feeling of insecurity in them. Our players not only fight the opposition team on the field, but they also have to fight mentally, because they always have the fear of being dropped from the team."

Malik stressed that unless the PCB gives stability and confidence to its players, it will be difficult for Pakistan to produce players like Abhishek Sharma.

Importance of India-Pakistan match

The India-Pakistan match to be held on September 14 is not only a big opportunity for cricket fans, but it is also a golden opportunity for a young player like Abhishek Sharma to prove his talent. Looking at his aggressive batting and fearless style, it would not be wrong to say that he can prove to be a big threat to the Pakistani bowlers in this high-pressure match.

The Pakistan team, which is known for its bowling, will have to make a solid strategy against Abhishek. But as Shoaib Malik said, if Pakistani players lack confidence, then players like Abhishek can prove to be even more dangerous for them.