The Asia Cup 2025 is hurtling towards a thrilling conclusion, with only a few matches remaining before Sunday’s grand finale. The coveted spot in the final is still fiercely contested, and the excitement has surged following Pakistan’s recent triumph.
After India and Bangladesh kicked off their Super Fours campaigns with victories, Pakistan rekindled their hopes with a hard-fought five-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. This crucial result has kept alive the mouth-watering prospect of another classic India versus Pakistan encounter – potentially in the tournament’s ultimate match.
For both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who had suffered losses in their opening Super Four fixtures, Tuesday’s contest was nothing short of a do-or-die battle. Pakistan’s bowlers set an excellent foundation by restricting Sri Lanka to a modest 133/8 on what was considered a favorable batting surface. Despite a strong 45-run opening partnership from Sri Lanka, the chase became surprisingly tense as Pakistan stumbled to 80/5. However, Mohammad Nawaz (a superb 38* off 24 balls) and Hussain Talat (a steady 32* off 30 balls) then combined for a vital 58-run stand, guiding their team across the finish line with 12 balls to spare.
This victory propelled Pakistan into second place in the Super Fours table. They now stand level on two points with both India and Bangladesh, but crucially, their superior net run rate places them ahead of Bangladesh. India currently holds the top spot with a net run rate of +0.689, followed by Pakistan at +0.226, while Bangladesh sits third with +0.121. Sri Lanka, having lost both their games, faces near-certain elimination.
The path to the final is now clearer: if India defeats Bangladesh in Dubai on Wednesday, Sri Lanka will be officially out of contention, and India will secure their spot in the final. This scenario would transform Thursday’s Pakistan versus Bangladesh clash into a de-facto semi-final, with the winner advancing to face India in the championship decider.
Conversely, if Bangladesh manages to pull off an upset against India, the Super Fours battle will remain wide open, injecting even more suspense and keeping all four teams mathematically in the running. In such a scenario, both Pakistan and India would still require wins in their final Super Fours matches to guarantee qualification, while Bangladesh, despite being on four points, wouldn’t yet have a guaranteed spot.
With the standings delicately balanced, Pakistan’s determined victory has ensured that the tantalizing possibility of a third India versus Pakistan clash in this Asia Cup – a true blockbuster final – is very much alive, promising an unforgettable climax to the tournament.