Bowled out for just 55, Pakistan's mentor Wahab Riaz still fancies Asia Cup glory

Despite crashing to 55 all out and losing by 7 wickets to India in Dubai, Pakistan mentor Wahab Riaz insisted his side remains the strongest contender for the Asia Cup trophy.

India's women handed Pakistan a humiliating defeat in the 9th match of the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026, played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan's batting fell apart for just 55 runs, and India cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win. The heavy loss has complicated Pakistan's semifinal hopes, leaving the side with no option but to win their final group-stage match to stay alive in the tournament.

Still backing themselves for the title despite the collapse
Despite the scale of the defeat, Pakistan's camp showed no sign of losing confidence. Wahab Riaz, a former Pakistani player now serving as the team's mentor, fronted the post-match press conference and, while acknowledging the loss, expressed full faith in the squad. "I still think Pakistan is the best team to win this Asia Cup trophy," he said. Wahab Riaz added that the Dubai pitch was good for batting and that Pakistan's decision to bat first after winning the toss was not wrong either, but the players failed to handle the pressure of such a big match, causing the batting order to collapse entirely.

Mental toughness the focus, Hong Kong up next
Wahab Riaz openly admitted that buckling under pressure against India was the team's biggest weakness. He said the support staff will now work on the players' mental toughness and explain to each player where and why they went wrong during the match. According to him, the squad is not short on talent, the players simply need to believe in themselves. Pakistan's next match is against Hong Kong, and before that clash the team management will thoroughly review the mistakes made against India so the same errors are not repeated.

The defeat has also complicated the group-stage arithmetic for Pakistan. The team management knows that without a win in its last league match, the road to the semifinal will be shut, which is why Wahab Riaz's comments carry the hope that the side will bounce back in its remaining games after learning from this defeat. Being bowled out for just 55 also stands as one of the lowest totals Pakistan have posted in this format, and it has understandably raised questions about the batting unit. With the Hong Kong fixture now virtually a must-win game, Pakistan's campaign hinges on erasing this collapse from memory and delivering under pressure when it matters most.

What this means for you
The result directly affects Pakistan's semifinal chances, and its biggest consequence will play out over the rest of the tournament.

• For cricket fans: Pakistan's next match against Hong Kong has now become a virtual must-win game; losing it would mean an early exit from the tournament.
• For the Indian team: This big win strengthens India's own semifinal claim, and the side will head into remaining matches with greater confidence.
• For Pakistan's team management: Immediate changes to the batting order and mental preparation are now needed, making the pre-match review critical.
• For the tournament equation: The remaining group-stage results will now decide which teams reach the semifinal, raising the stakes for every leftover fixture.

Questions & Answers

1. Where was this match played?
It was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as the 9th match of the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026.

2. What score was Pakistan bowled out for?
Pakistan's team was bowled out for just 55 runs.

3. By what margin did India win?
India won the match comfortably by 7 wickets.

4. Who is Wahab Riaz?
Wahab Riaz is a former Pakistani player currently serving as the mentor of the Pakistan women's team.

5. What does Pakistan need to reach the semifinal?
Pakistan must win their final group-stage match under any circumstances.

6. Who does Pakistan play next?
Pakistan's next match is against Hong Kong.

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