When India and Pakistan meet on the cricket field, the stakes are rarely just about runs and wickets. But Sunday's T20 encounter in the Asia Cup 2025 carries an added weight—unfolding just months after a brief but intense conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The match, to be played under floodlights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, will be the first between the two sides since their four-day military standoff in May.
Though a full-scale war was narrowly averted through international mediation, tensions remain high, with diplomatic and sporting ties continuing to feel the strain.
Critics in both countries have questioned the timing of the match, with some Indian voices branding it inappropriate in the wake of such hostilities. Indian cricket writer Kudip Lal told Al Jazeera, “People in India have been very angry about the match ever since this fixture was confirmed. They feel it’s not right to play while relations are so strained.”
Lal also criticised the Indian cricket board, the BCCI, suggesting they were more interested in revenue than restraint. “If the Indian government has suspended visas and diplomatic ties, why are cricketers being asked to play this match in the aftermath of a war?” he said.
While the sentiment may be shared across borders, cricket continues to occupy a unique space in the subcontinent—capable of stoking nationalistic fervour and providing moments of fleeting unity.
A New Chapter for a Fierce Rivalry
The fixture marks a generational shift on the field. No Virat Kohli. No Rohit Sharma. For Pakistan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will be watching from the stands. Instead, fresh faces like Abhishek Sharma, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, and Shubman Gill are now entrusted with carrying the mantle of cricket’s most storied rivalry.
Despite the geopolitical backdrop, fans and pundits alike are intrigued by this fresh narrative. Players such as Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha are expected to be at the heart of the contest. Yadav, India’s captain for the tournament, has yet to make a mark against Pakistan in five T20Is, failing to cross 20 runs in any of them. For Pakistan, allrounder Salman Agha has led from the front, with half of his T20I fifties coming in 2025.
Selection and Strategy
India appear set to continue with Sanju Samson behind the stumps and a spin-heavy bowling attack, well suited to Dubai’s slow pitches. Jasprit Bumrah remains the lone frontline quick, supported by seam-bowling allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel provide a versatile spin trio.
India (probable XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.
Pakistan are also likely to back spin, with Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem joining Mohammad Nawaz in the slow-bowling department. Haris Rauf may return to bolster the pace unit alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan (probable XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed.
Venue and Conditions
Dubai, as always, is expected to offer dry and slow conditions. The average first-innings scoring rate in T20s at this venue over the past two years stands at 7.7 runs per over. While pacers have taken more wickets in that period, spinners have maintained better economy rates (7.03 vs 8.36).
Chasing has also proven a key advantage—seven of the last eight T20Is between India and Pakistan have been won by the side batting second, including all three meetings in Dubai.
Key Stats
Hardik Pandya is the leading wicket-taker in India-Pakistan T20Is with 13 wickets from six innings.
India’s scoring rate of 9.66 runs per over since the last T20 World Cup ranks third among full ICC members. Pakistan’s rate stands at 8.12.
Four of Salman Agha’s eight T20I fifties have come in 2025, underscoring his growing influence in Pakistan’s batting order.
Voices from the Camp
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate praised the flexibility in the lineup. “We’re very lucky with Sanju, Axar and Hardik—guys who can bat anywhere from up the order to 7-8. So it’ll be part of our strategy to use our versatility when conditions are a little bit tough.”
Pakistan’s team has kept a more cautious tone, with their captain Salman Agha saying: “It’s a big game, and fans from both countries care deeply about it. But it’s important for us to follow our processes in the same way, and work on improving our execution.”
The Verdict
The stakes are high, the emotions higher, but for 40 overs on Sunday night in Dubai, the spotlight will shift—at least momentarily—from geopolitics to cricket. Whether it rekindles the old magic or deepens the divide, this is more than just a match. It's a moment.
Source: Al Jazeera, Crickinfo
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