Inzamam underscored the significance of maintaining squad continuity while recognizing the talents of the current spinners in the lineup. He emphasized that the decision was rooted in the desire to preserve stability within the team.

“We have chosen to retain Abrar [Ahmed] as part of our reserves, should the need arise. I wanted to avoid unnecessary upheaval. The trio of spinners – Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, and Mohammad Nawaz – have been integral to the team and possess great potential. They must work diligently to play a pivotal role in the middle overs, a critical phase where spinners can make a difference,” Inzamam explained.

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.

Pakistan has taken proactive measures by summoning pacers Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan as contingency options following injuries to Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah during the Super Four stage match against India in the Asia Cup on Monday. Both Naseem and Rauf sustained minor injuries during Pakistan’s significant 228-run loss to India, raising doubts about their availability for the final Super Four stage match against Sri Lanka on Thursday. These precautionary steps prioritize the fitness and well-being of the players, particularly with an eye on the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup next month.

Haris and Naseem will remain under the vigilant observation of the team’s medical panel, with the team management considering requesting replacements from the ACC technical committee only if their recovery extends beyond the next seven days. The Pakistan Cricket Board issued a statement clarifying the purpose of these measures, emphasizing the players’ long-term health.

“The team management will only request replacement from the ACC technical committee if Haris or Naseem are ruled out for the next seven days.”

Pakistan’s loss to India in the Super Four stage has pushed Babar Azam’s team to third place on the current Super Four table. This development implies that a crucial victory will likely be needed in the upcoming match against Sri Lanka to secure a spot in this year’s final.