Showbiz personalities have joined fans in criticizing Pakistan’s poor performance in the Asia Cup final against India, pointing fingers at both the players’ attitude and team management’s decisions.
Actress and television host Mishi Khan lashed out at the national team, calling them “product of favoritism.” She remarked that the players do not go to tournaments to compete but rather to party, adding that their body language reflected no intent to win.
Her criticism echoed the sentiments of thousands of fans on social media, where Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf faced the harshest backlash. In the high-pressure final, Rauf bowled 3.4 overs without taking a wicket, conceding 50 runs at an economy of 13.63. In his final two overs, he gave away 30 runs, swinging the match in India’s favor.
Questions were also raised about captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to hand the last over to Rauf despite his expensive spell. The gamble backfired as India clinched victory by five wickets in the final over, ending Pakistan’s hopes of breaking a 41-year drought against their rivals in an Asia Cup final.
The result left Pakistan’s campaign overshadowed by disappointment and controversy, while the debate over performance, favoritism, and accountability within the squad intensified both on and off the field.
