Cricket fever has gripped the region as the Asia Cup final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is set for a thrilling clash at the Dubai International Stadium. All 28,000 seats have been snapped up, making this a sold-out spectacle. This historic match will be the first time these two cricketing giants meet in an Asia Cup final since the tournament’s inception way back in 1984, promising an unforgettable encounter.
Demand for matches involving these two nations has been consistently sky-high throughout the tournament. A staggering 20,000 spectators attended their group stage match on September 14th, followed by 17,000 at the Super Four encounter on September 21st, demonstrating the immense passion and rivalry between them.
India enters the final as strong favorites, boasting an impressive record of 12 wins out of 15 T20I matches against Pakistan. They’ve already delivered comprehensive victories against their rivals in both their previous Asia Cup 2025 meetings.
Pakistan’s journey to the final, however, has been fraught with challenges. They narrowly avoided elimination during their Super Fours match against Bangladesh, securing an 11-run victory to clinch their spot in the ultimate showdown.
The Indian squad faced a slight scare when Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya experienced cramps during their final Super Fours match against Sri Lanka. Fortunately, both key players have been declared fit and ready for the final. The formidable Indian lineup includes captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s team is led by captain Salman Ali Agha, with a roster featuring Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, and Sufyan Moqim.
This marks the third time India and Pakistan will face off in as many weeks, but with a coveted trophy now on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Beyond the endless discussions and pre-match anticipation, this final will ultimately be remembered for the electrifying cricket played out under the bright lights of Dubai.