In a recent triumph at the Emerging Asia Cup 2023, Mohammad Haris demonstrated exemplary leadership, guiding Pakistan A to a remarkable victory over India A in the final. And now his statement after the win raises eyebrows among Indian cricketers and fans.
The Pakistani fans celebrated the team’s success, while some critics perceived it as a face-off between seasoned players from Pakistan and the young talents from India.
Pakistan’s squad featured several players with international experience, including their captain Haris, alongside Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Saim Ayub. On the other hand, the Indian team was predominantly composed of young players, with 20-year-old Yash Dhull leading the charge.
Haris strongly refuted the criticism regarding Pakistan having an unfair advantage over India due to their ‘seniority.’ He dismissed such claims by stating that even the players with international experience in the Pakistan team have only played a few T20I matches.
Speaking on a podcast without directly mentioning the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Haris clarified that Pakistan never asked for ‘little kids’ to be sent to the tournament. He highlighted that some are pointing to their team’s international experience, but in reality, Saim has played only 5 matches, and he himself has played just 6 T20Is. In contrast, the Indian players had significant experience, with 260 IPL matches collectively.
Haris firmly responded to the criticism, stating, “There are claims that Pakistan brought a team with many experienced players. However, we never requested them to send little kids to the tournament. They talk about our international experience, but let’s be honest, Saim has played 5 matches, and I have played 6. On the other hand, those guys from the Indian side have participated in 260 IPL matches.”
It’s worth noting that India A had defeated Pakistan A earlier in the tournament, winning by a convincing eight-wicket margin. They had remained unbeaten until the final match.
However, in the final showdown, the Indian team couldn’t replicate their previous performance. Pakistan A displayed an outstanding performance, scoring 352 for 8 in 50 overs. In contrast, India A struggled and was bowled out for a total of just 224 runs in 40 overs, resulting in a significant margin of 128 runs in favor of Pakistan A.
