Wahab Riaz with Fatima Sana (Photo by X@DoctorofCricket)
In a statement that sent shockwaves through the cricket world, Pakistan women’s team head coach Wahab Riaz said his team is the “best” in the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup 2026, just hours after they were bowled out by a measly 55 runs against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, September 5, 2026. A spectacular seven-wicket defeat that saw India chase down the target in just 8.4 overs marked Pakistan’s dismal performance and its lowest score in the history of women’s international T20 cricket. Shri Charani and the Spinners dominate as India thrash Pakistan in the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup between IND and PAK.
Pakistan women’s coach Wahab Riaz makes outrageous statement
Wahab Riaz keeps the girls green despite being eliminated with the lowest score, believing that this Pakistani team is the best and can lift the trophy.#Cricket | #Pakistan | #WahabRiaz | #AsianCup | #India pic.twitter.com/30VtQxEt54
— Khel Shel (@khelshel) September 5, 2026
Riaz’s surprising statement came amid widespread criticism following Pakistan’s capitulation in the deciding Group A match. The former fast bowler’s post-match comments were met with incredulity given the nature of the defeat.
Match details and Pakistan’s collapse
Opting to bat first, Pakistan’s innings never gained momentum as India’s spin attack proved unplayable. The chief tormentors were young Indian spinners Sri Charani and Prema Rawat, who each claimed three wickets to dismantle the Pakistan batting line-up.
| Player (Pakistan) | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Shawal Zulfiqar | 14 | 20 |
| Other batters | < 10 | – |
Pakistan lost six wickets for just 15 runs at one stage, eventually being bowled out for 55 in 18.1 overs.
India’s dominant chase
India responded with ease to the modest target, despite a brief wobble when they lost three quick wickets. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who became the first captain to lead a team in 150 T20 International matches, along with Deepti Sharma, calmly led India to victory.
| Player (India) | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 18* | 11 |
| Shafali Verma | 12 | 6 |
| Deepti Sharma | 12* | 8 |
India reached 57/3 in just 8.4 overs, sealing a comprehensive victory with 68 balls to spare and securing their place in the semi-finals as group leaders.
Wahab Riaz’s position and tournament context
Wahab Riaz’s declaration of “Pakistan’s best team in the Women’s Asia Cup” after such a significant defeat stands in stark contrast to his earlier comments this year, in which he stressed the need for “fearless cricket” and admitted that building a strong team “will take some time”. Pakistan, who are in Group A along with India, Thailand and Hong Kong (China), will now need to quickly regroup ahead of their match against Hong Kong (China) on Monday, September 7, 2026 at 8:00 pm IST. IND vs PAK, Women’s Asian Cup 2026: Pakistan bowled out 55 to set unwanted WT20I record.
The 2026 Women’s Asia Cup will see eight teams vying for the T20 title with the final of the tournament concluding on September 13. All matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the semi-finals scheduled for September 10 and 11.
This stunning defeat and the coach’s defiant stance certainly adds a new level of intrigue to Pakistan’s campaign as they look to bounce back from a crushing defeat to their biggest rivals.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 6, 2026 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website lately.com).