Akhtar says India will struggle to chase a total of 200 from Pakistan if Abhishek falls early

Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that India will struggle to chase a total close to 200 from Pakistan in Sunday's Asia Cup final in Dubai.

Pakistan lost to India twice in the Asia Cup, once by seven wickets and the second time by six wickets. But Akhtar believes India won't find it easy if the total was higher than what they managed in the two previous meetings.

In the league phase, Pakistan made a modest 127/9 and India chased it down with 25 balls to spare. In the Super 4s stage, Pakistan set a target of 172, but India won with seven balls to spare.

"Batting first, Pakistan probably can achieve somewhere close to 200. If that happens, mentally India is going to go down," Akhtar said in a post-Bangladesh game analysis show on a Pakistani streaming platform.

The former speedster was impressed by the positive attitude displayed by Pakistan in the crucial Super 4s match against Bangladesh, which they won by 11 runs.

"Go with the same attitude," Akhtar urged the Pakistan side. "Break the aura India has created around them."

"When Abhishek gets out early, they (India) will get into trouble. All these exciting starts that they have been getting, they are going to struggle as well," Akhtar said.