The Indian men’s cricket team is set to travel to the United Arab Emirates next month for the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup. Their campaign will begin on September 10 in Dubai against the host nation UAE before moving on to a much-anticipated encounter with Pakistan on September 14, also in Dubai.
This upcoming clash will be the first T20I meeting between India and Pakistan since their face-off in New York on June 9, 2024, during the T20 World Cup. Despite ongoing tensions between the two countries, the tournament organisers remain confident that the fixture will go ahead as planned.
A section of Indian fans opine that the national team should refuse to play against Pakistan, drawing parallels with the recent decision by India Champions players to skip a match against Pakistan Champions during the World Championship of Legends. However, officials have dismissed the likelihood of a similar scenario unfolding in the Asia Cup.
Subhan Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Cricket Board, explained that comparisons between the Asia Cup and private events like the WCL are misplaced. He noted that participation in the Asia Cup involves securing government clearances well in advance, a process completed before the announcement of the tournament schedule. This, he suggested, makes a last-minute withdrawal highly improbable.
If both India and Pakistan perform strongly, fans could witness as many as three meetings between the two sides during the competition, including a potential final.
