Pakistan suffer humiliating ODI defeat to West Indies, raising concerns ahead of Asia Cup

Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse in the deciding ODI against the West Indies in Tarouba, being bowled out for just 92 while chasing 295. Following a promising five-wicket win in the opener, Mohammad Rizwan’s team completely imploded in the second match and capitulated spectacularly in the decider.

Batting collapse unfolds early

The top order disintegrated within the first three overs: openers Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, and captain Rizwan were all dismissed for ducks, leaving the chase in disarray. Babar Azam managed only 9 runs, while Salman Agha, though slightly more resilient, contributed just 30. The innings ended in 29.2 overs, with Jayden Seales wreaking havoc — returning sensational figures of 6 wickets for 18 runs in 7.2 overs.


Following the stonewall collapse, former Pakistan cricketers didn’t hold back, expressing their outrage. Shoaib Akhtar criticized the batting lineup’s mindset, saying they “can’t take flat pitches everywhere.” Basit Ali went further, invoking the politically charged context of the upcoming Asia Cup. “I pray India refuse to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup,” he said, adding, “They will beat us so badly you can’t even imagine.” On The Game Plan YouTube channel, when the host quipped that Pakistan wouldn’t even stand a chance against Afghanistan in this form, Basit responded, “If we lose to Afghanistan, no one would care much in this country. But everyone goes mad the moment you lose to India.”

Asia Cup outlook remains optimistic

Despite the devastating ODI result, Pakistan’s prospects for the upcoming Asia Cup are less bleak. The tournament will be played in the T20 format, a format in which Pakistan has demonstrated stronger performance. They previously edged the West Indies 2–1 in the T20I series, with Salman Agha leading from the front. Notably, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not feature in that series—and may again sit out the Asia Cup.

The Asia Cup, set to be held in the UAE, will serve as vital preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.