After 55-Run Rout, Wahab Riaz Still Backs Pakistan for Asia Cup Glory

New Delhi, September 06, 2026 A crushing defeat against India has not shaken Wahab Riaz’s confidence in the Pakistan women’s team. After Pakistan were bundled out for just 55 and India wrapped up the chase with remarkable ease, the Pakistan coach made the bold assertion that his side remains the strongest contender to win the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. His confidence comes at a time when Pakistan’s campaign has also been overshadowed by questions over team selection. The India-Pakistan contest turned into a one-sided affair as Pakistan’s batting lineup failed to withstand India’s bowling attack. Shree Charni led the charge with three wickets, while Deepti Sharma and Prema Rawat took two wickets apiece. Shafali Verma also contributed with one wicket as Pakistan’s innings ended at 55 in 18.1 overs. Only openers Muneeba Ali and Shawal Zulfiqar avoided single-digit scores, while the rest of the batting order struggled to make an impact. India then chased the target in just 8.4 overs, losing only three wickets. "I believe that all the players in our team are very skilful, and they just need to trust themselves. Our next match is against Hong Kong. We will go back and discuss what we did wrong against India. We will try not to commit the same mistakes. I still believe Pakistan is the best side in this Asia Cup to lift the trophy because the conditions really suit us," Riaz told reporters in the press conference. The defeat also brought attention to contrasting views within the Pakistan camp. Captain Sana Mir had reportedly questioned the management’s decision to make extensive changes to the squad, with seven players being left out. Riaz, however, made it clear that he did not share responsibility for the captain’s views and defended the decision to bring fresh players into the setup. "Sana Mir has her own opinion. I have nothing to do with that opinion. We have made changes with the future in mind. The players who were playing before, they have played a lot of World Cups and Asia Cups but we weren't getting the results. So it was time to go with new faces and bring new girls into the mix to build the team for the upcoming tournaments," Riaz said. "It is not about who we left behind. We have to look at the reality. The girls who were left out weren't performing at all. I think we did the right move by bringing new girls into the mix," he asserted. Pakistan now move into a crucial stage of the tournament, with their semifinal hopes under serious pressure. Their upcoming match has become a must-win encounter, as another defeat could end their Women’s Asia Cup campaign. For Riaz and his team, the challenge will now be to translate the coach’s unwavering belief into performances on the field and keep their hopes of lifting the trophy alive.