DUBAI; Pakistan and India are set for a high-stakes showdown in the Asia Cup, which kicks off Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates. The clash will mark their first cricket meeting since the military confrontation in May.
The eight-nation T20I tournament begins with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, while the much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter is scheduled for September 14 in Dubai. Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has urged players and fans to “stay disciplined and not cross the line” when emotions run high.
Bilateral cricket between the two neighbors has been suspended since 2012, with matches confined to neutral venues at international events. Drawn in the same group, India and Pakistan could face each other up to three times before the final on September 28.
The tournament unfolds against a tense backdrop: a deadly four-day conflict in May killed over 70 people in missile, drone, and artillery exchanges before a ceasefire was reached. The hostility spilled into sport as well, when India’s team of retired players, led by Yuvraj Singh, pulled out of their semi-final against Pakistan at the World Championship of Legends in England earlier this summer.
On the field, India enter as Asia Cup titleholders and heavy favorites, led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav and boasting a dominant 10-3 head-to-head record against Pakistan in T20Is. The last meeting between the sides was in February, also in Dubai, where India triumphed in the Champions Trophy before going on to win the tournament.
Pakistan, meanwhile, face a setback with the omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I squad due to poor form.
This edition features the five full members of the Asian Cricket Council — Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka — joined by Hong Kong, Oman, and hosts UAE, who qualified through the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE, while Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.
The group stage will be followed by a Super Four phase, culminating in the final in Dubai on September 28.
