{
  "id": 5926737,
  "title": "Pakistan Still Favourites To Win Women's Asia Cup Despite India Rout, Says Mentor Wahab Riaz",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/pakistan-still-favourites-to-win-womens-asia-cup-despite-india-rout",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-06T06:42:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/pakistan-still-favourites-to-win-womens-asia-cup-despite-india-rout-says-mentor-wahab-riaz"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai, Sep 6 - Despite a heavy loss to India in their Women’s Asia Cup league match at Dubai, Pakistan's mentor Wahab Riaz remains optimistic about his team's chances of winning the tournament. Pakistan, playing their 200th T20I, were thrashed for a record-low score of 55 runs after India imposed a spin-choke. Despite captain Fatima Sana's efforts, Pakistan could not prevent India from achieving the target and extending their winning streak in the Women's Asia Cup 2026. Riaz, however, believes in Pakistan's potential to lift the trophy, stating, \"I believe Pakistan are the best side in the Asia Cup to lift the trophy.\" He emphasized that the team's upcoming match against Hong Kong will provide an opportunity to analyze their mistakes against India and rectify them. Riaz defended the changes made in the team, stating that players left out were not performing well and that the alterations were made to incorporate new faces for future tournaments.",
  "summary": "Dubai, Sep 6: After a humiliating defeat at the hands of India in the Women’s Asia Cup league-stage match in Dubai on Saturday, Pakistan team mentor Wahab Riaz said his side remains the favourites to lift the trophy. Pakistan backs title hopes Playing their 200th T20I, Pakistan struggled to find momentum as India implemented a spin-choke to dismiss them for a record-low T20I score of 55. Despite…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pakistan mentor Wahab Riaz optimistic despite India's rout.",
    "Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana's efforts insufficient.",
    "Upcoming match against Hong Kong to assess and rectify mistakes."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Pakistan's mentor Wahab Riaz still considers his team favourites to win the Women's Asia Cup, indicating confidence in their potential to overcome a heavy loss to India and previous underperformance.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}