After Pakistan’s exit from the 2023 Asia Cup following their defeat to Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage in Colombo on Thursday, Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistan pacer, shared his sentiments and couldn’t help but lavish praise on the emerging Pakistan pacer, Zaman Khan.

Akhtar, while acknowledging Pakistan’s elimination, highlighted the significant contribution of Zaman Khan, who was drafted into the squad due to injuries to Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.

“You’ve seen the match. Pakistan is out of the tournament. The match that was made in favor of Pakistan, it was all done by Zaman Khan. Whatever chances Pakistan had of winning the match were all because of him. Shaheen Afridi also got a few wickets, but credit goes to Zaman. He bowled really well,” Akhtar praised on his YouTube channel.

While expressing his admiration for Pakistan’s rightful place in the Asia Cup final, Akhtar acknowledged that Sri Lanka outperformed them on the crucial day.

“Pakistan deserved to go to the Asia Cup final, but they are now out of the tournament. They will be criticized a lot as they were touted as the ‘favorites.’ Unfortunately, there won’t be a Pakistan vs. India match in the final, it has never happened. This was the chance, but Sri Lanka deserved to be the finalists,” he further added.

After Pakistan’s unexpected exit from the 2023 Asia Cup, former Indian cricketers Irfan Pathan and Aakash Chopra took to social media to engage in some playful banter at Pakistan’s expense.

In a riveting start to the 2023 Asia Cup, Pakistan’s opener Fakhar Zaman seized the spotlight with a truly remarkable catch that sent Nepal’s Gulsan Jha packing. The captivating moment unfolded on Wednesday at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

As the 21st over of Nepal’s innings was underway, Gulsan Jha adopted an aggressive stance, attempting to take on a yorker delivered by Shadab Khan. His intention was to loft the ball over deep mid-wicket, aiming for a boundary. However, fate had different plans for the delivery.

A top-edge ensued, lofting the ball into the sky. Initially destined to land in the vacant outfield, the trajectory of the ball took an unexpected turn.

Enter Fakhar Zaman, who displayed his athleticism and quick thinking. Starting his sprint from the boundary rope, he unleashed a forward dive that defied the odds. Mid-air, he reached out and clung onto the ball, completing a catch that left both commentators and the audience awestruck.

This pivotal wicket marked Shadab Khan’s initial breakthrough in the innings. He went on to claim three more wickets, exhibiting a masterful display of bowling that eventually restricted Nepal to a total of 104 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the accomplished Indian cricketer, has pinpointed Pakistan as potent contenders and “favorites” alongside India for the impending Asia Cup 2023. While Sri Lanka holds the T20 championship title from the previous edition, the spotlight remains on India and Pakistan as frontrunners for the upcoming tournament.

In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin elucidated that Pakistan’s prospects hinge heavily on the consistent performances of their captain, Babar Azam, and wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan, in the upcoming months. These players’ form could potentially pose formidable challenges for opponents not only in the Asia Cup but also in the ODI World Cup.

“If Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan maintain their consistent performances with the bat in the middle order, Pakistan will emerge as a formidable force in both the Asia Cup and the World Cup. Their strength will be hard to surpass. Pakistan truly stands out as an exceptional side,” Ashwin remarked.

Ashwin delved into the reasons underpinning Pakistan’s status as favorites this year, alongside the Indian team.

“Their distinct advantage lies in the depth of their squad. Historically, Pakistan has consistently produced exceptional cricketers. Their strong tradition in tape ball cricket has nurtured a constant stream of fast bowlers. Their batting prowess was particularly evident in the late 90s and 2000s. However, their participation in various leagues has significantly contributed to their resurgence over the past 5-6 years. The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has played a pivotal role. They have also made substantial inroads into tournaments like the Big Bash League (BBL), with a considerable presence of Pakistan players in recent drafts,” he added.