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In this exclusive interview, Pakistan leg-spinning all-rounder Usama Mir reflects on the Asia Cup 2025 final against India. He discusses the national team’s dramatic batting collapse and the controversies surrounding the tournament. The Worcestershire star opens up about the palpable disappointment in the dressing room, questions the tactical decisions and team selection, and gives his take on the Babar-Rizwan exclusion debate — and much more.
Key revelations include:
* On the batting collapse: Mir expressed his sheer disbelief and frustration over the team's dramatic batting collapse in the Asia Cup final 2025. He said, "I'm still thinking about how we managed that 113 for 1 to 146, all out".
* On the captain's dismissal: He offered a blunt and critical assessment of the captain's decision-making. He directly criticized the captain's shot selection, stating, "He was out of his mind. He's playing a check shot." So for him a poor and ill-judged shot from the leader was a key factor in the team's collapse.
* On selection hypocrisy: Mir exposed what he saw as flawed and inconsistent logic in the team's selection process. He questioned the reasoning behind removing certain players, asking, "Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were removed because of their strike rate?" He believes that the stated reasons for selection changes were not entirely genuine or were applied selectively.
* On the Nawaz paradox: Usama mocked the over-exaggerated praise for a player who was ultimately underutilized. He sarcastically questioned the high regard for Mohammad Nawaz, saying, "He is the best in the world? Don't over-exaggerate." This reflects his frustration with the team's failure to utilize a player's supposed talent and a critique of the hype surrounding him.
* On tactical confusion: The spinner expressed his bewilderment at the team's on-field tactics. He questioned a specific tactical decision that went against conventional cricket wisdom, stating, "Why can't a lefty bowl against a lefty batsman? It's international cricket."
* On politics in sport: Usama Mir took a clear and firm stance on the issue of political interference in sports, particularly in the context of a controversial post-match handshake incident. He was emphatic in his belief that the two should not mix, stating, "Politics should not be a part of sports. Any sports". This shows his strong conviction that politics and sports should remain separate to preserve the integrity of the game.
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
Key revelations include:
* On the batting collapse: Mir expressed his sheer disbelief and frustration over the team's dramatic batting collapse in the Asia Cup final 2025. He said, "I'm still thinking about how we managed that 113 for 1 to 146, all out".
* On the captain's dismissal: He offered a blunt and critical assessment of the captain's decision-making. He directly criticized the captain's shot selection, stating, "He was out of his mind. He's playing a check shot." So for him a poor and ill-judged shot from the leader was a key factor in the team's collapse.
* On selection hypocrisy: Mir exposed what he saw as flawed and inconsistent logic in the team's selection process. He questioned the reasoning behind removing certain players, asking, "Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were removed because of their strike rate?" He believes that the stated reasons for selection changes were not entirely genuine or were applied selectively.
* On the Nawaz paradox: Usama mocked the over-exaggerated praise for a player who was ultimately underutilized. He sarcastically questioned the high regard for Mohammad Nawaz, saying, "He is the best in the world? Don't over-exaggerate." This reflects his frustration with the team's failure to utilize a player's supposed talent and a critique of the hype surrounding him.
* On tactical confusion: The spinner expressed his bewilderment at the team's on-field tactics. He questioned a specific tactical decision that went against conventional cricket wisdom, stating, "Why can't a lefty bowl against a lefty batsman? It's international cricket."
* On politics in sport: Usama Mir took a clear and firm stance on the issue of political interference in sports, particularly in the context of a controversial post-match handshake incident. He was emphatic in his belief that the two should not mix, stating, "Politics should not be a part of sports. Any sports". This shows his strong conviction that politics and sports should remain separate to preserve the integrity of the game.
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
