Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan ready for high stakes clash against India tomorrow

DUBAI: One of cricket’s fiercest rivalries will once again take centre stage on Sunday as Pakistan face India in the T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Both teams enter the contest with confidence. Defending champions India crushed hosts UAE by nine wickets in their opening match, while Pakistan secured a convincing 93-run win over Oman after recently lifting the tri-nation series in Sharjah.

Traditionally, India-Pakistan clashes are the first to sell out in any multi-nation event. This time, however, the buzz is different. Reports suggest tickets, especially the premium ones priced from Rs 75,000 to over Rs 2.5 lakh, are still available. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra hinted that high prices, star retirements, and even boycott calls might be dampening interest.

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Despite this, anticipation remains high in Pakistan. Fans see the fixture as a chance for the young side, led by Salman Agha, to test their strength against a well-settled Indian unit.

Pakistan’s line-up blends experience with fresh talent, with stars like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf expected to spearhead the bowling attack.

WASIM AKRAM’s PREDICTION

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes the match will be highly competitive. “India look strong on paper, but Pakistan’s confidence is high after winning the tri-series. They can give India a tough fight,” he told Telecom Asia Sport.

Akram also urged patience with the new-look squad. “Pakistan is a young side under Salman Agha and coach Mike Hesson. They need time to settle into a strong unit. Our nation often expects quick results, but this process will take time,” he added.

SHAHID AFRIDI TAKES A JAB AT INDIAN CRICKETERS

Former captain Shahid Afridi has taken aim at Indian cricketers, accusing them of “mixing politics with cricket.”

Afridi said some ex-players are “desperate to prove their nationalism” even while doing commentary.

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“There are so many problems in India. Their players are threatened at home, yet some are still busy proving their Indianness. Even during commentary, they show it,” Afridi remarked in a recent interview.

He also recalled the World Championship of Legends (WCL) episode in England, when Indian players refused to play against Pakistan. “Fans had tickets, teams had practised, but India backed out. This was politics, not cricket,” Afridi said.

Afridi hinted at senior Indian cricketers without naming them, but took a veiled swipe at Shikhar Dhawan, calling him a “bad egg” with ulterior motives.

According to Afridi, Dhawan went against his then-captain Yuvraj Singh’s advice by tweeting about not playing, which further soured relations.

“I have always maintained that cricket brings people together and improves ties between Pakistan and India. But when players let politics dictate cricket, it damages the spirit of the game,” Afridi added.

TEAM PAKISTAN

Predicted XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Salman Agha (captain), Hasan Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem. Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

TEAM INDIA

Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav. Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper).

The Group A match will begin at 6:30 pm Pakistan Standard Time. With both sides eyeing early momentum in the tournament, the clash promises high intensity.

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