One of the sport’s most intense and widespread rivalries will once again be in the spotlight when India clashes with Pakistan at the T20 Asian Cup 2025 in Cricket.
Both teams are riding a wave of confidence given the recent form of the T20 Internationals.
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Defending champion India won the campaign in the Group A game in Dubai with nine wicket thrashings by Host United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Meanwhile, Pakistan enters the Asian Cup behind the trio of T20 series victory with Afghanistan and Sharjah’s UAE.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match:
Where is India vs Pakistan?
Group A fixtures are scheduled for Sunday and begin at 6:30pm (14:30pm GMT) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Why does Dubai host India and Pakistan?
India is set to host the tournament according to hosting rights schedule, and while the Indian Cricket Management Committee (BCCI) remains the official host of the tournament, it is being held in the UAE due to the recent Indian-Pakistan conflict.
Why doesn’t India play the bilateral cricket series against Pakistan?
The Indian government has banned athletes and teams from competing with Pakistani counterparts in bilateral tournaments in all sports. Indian athletes are also forbidden from travelling to Pakistan and are forced to host all Indian-Pakistani encounters at neutral venues in multinational sports tournaments.
Before ICC Champions Trophy 2025, both countries had agreed to host each other in neutral venues during the ICC event.
What is the weather forecast for India vs Pakistan in Dubai?
September is usually the hot month in the UAE, and this year is no exception.
The Sunday weather forecast is hot and humid, with a partial cloud cover of 41 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit).
The match begins immediately after sunset and the temperature drops to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit), making it slightly cooler in the evening.
What happened in the last India vs Pakistan match?
The final meeting between India and Pakistan took place on February 23rd in Dubai, the same venue, at the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Virat Kohli Batting Masterclass helped India win with six wickets on a sloft-by pitch. Pakistan posted 241 with 49.4 over. This was India’s 58th victory over Pakistan at the International (ODI) in the day. Pakistan defeated India 73 times in the ODI format.
How many times did Pakistan win the Asian Cup?
Pakistan lifted the trophy twice in 2000 and 2012, and qualified for the last five times.
India is a seven-time Asian Cup champion and has made 11 appearances in the finals.
How many times has India beat Pakistan in the Asian Cup?
In 19 clashes in the Asian Cup, India beat Pakistan 10 times and lost to its neighbors in sixth. Three matches, including a 2023 group stage match, have been abandoned due to bad weather.
When was Pakistan last defeated India?
Pakistan’s final Asian Cup victory in India took place in the UAE’s 2022 edition. Mohammad Rizwan scored the top score on 71 runs in Super Four Crash, but it was Mohammad Nawaz’s 20-ball 41 that got Pakistan into the run-chase line.
How many times will India play Pakistan in the Asian Cup?
Sunday’s match is so far the only confirmed India vs Pakistan match in the Asian Cup, but on September 21, if you qualify for the second stage, you could meet again in Super Force Crash.
The final on September 28th will offer cricket fans a chance to have a third India vs Pakistan match in two weeks.
India vs Pakistan: From head to head of T20IS
From the beginning of the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup, the country met at 13 T20IS. India won 10 times, including their first match in 2007.
Two of Pakistan’s three victories came in Dubai.
Players to watch: India
Abhishek Sharma: The fact that a young top-order batter was able to carve the spot in the highly competitive T20 Indian batting lineup is enough to mark Sharma as something to see in the Asian Cup. The 24-year-old boasts the highest career strike rate of 193 out of all T20 batters, backing it up in the second and half-century formats. Varun Chakaravarthy: The 34-year-old leg spin bowler’s second advance to the Indian side earned him a great reward as he scored 27 wickets in his final 12 T20i matches.
Watching Player: Pakistan
Hasan Nawaz: Pakistan is often criticized for not being able to match modern T20 batting strike rates, but in Nawaz they seem to have found a solution to this problem. The strike rate for 23 years old is 174, with a strike rate for those in their 250s in their 150s in their 16 games. Sufiyan Muqeem: The left-arm wrist spinner has been a mainstay in the limited-edition cricket bowling lineup, winning 25 wickets with 17 T20ISs since his debut two years ago.
Form Guide: India
Before the Asian Cup, India had not played T20 matches since hosting England in a five-match series in January and February.
The T20 World Champion won the Series 4-1 to maintain their advantage at the top of the ICC T20 men’s team’s rankings.
In fact, India has lost only three of the 20 T20s they have played since winning the World Cup in June 2024.
The last 5 results (latest first): wlw
Form Guide: Pakistan
The Pakistani format of the T20 has been mixed recently, winning three out of five T20 series this year.
They head towards a marquee collision with the series victory in the bag.
The last 5 results (latest first): lwlw
Team News: India
India was bolstered by Jaspuri Bumra’s return to the T20 side after a long injury and forced layoff of workload management.
They could potentially maintain the same XI that beat the UAE in the opening match.
The predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
Squad: Suryakumalyadav (Captain), Shubmangir, Hardikpandia, Ashdeepshin, Abhisheksharma, Thirakbaruma, Shivamduve, Aksar Patel, Ziteshsharma (Wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bamra, Balun Chakrabalsi (Wicketkeeper).
Team News: Pakistan
Like Pakistan’s cricket standards, the team has experienced many changes since the 2024 T20 World Cup, including team shuffling, captain changes and the introduction of new coaching staff.
However, since May, the team and captain have little change. Pakistan may be combining the youth and experience in XI for Sunday’s match.
Predicted Xi: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (Wicketkeeper), Salman Agha (Captain), Hasan Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Squad: Salman Aga (captain), Abral Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fahar Zaman, Harris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussein Tarat, Kushdir Shah, Mohammad Harris (Wicketer), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, The Sahizada Fahan Shave Afridi, Sufian Mukim.
Where can I buy India vs Pakistan tickets?
A selection of seats ranging from $135 to $135 in the general stand and up to $4,550 in the hospitality box for two will continue to be available at the tournament’s official ticket website, PlatinumList, and the stadium ticket office.
How to watch, follow and stream India vs Pakistan?
Al Jazeera Sport will be holding a commentary stream of live photos and text from 09:00 GMT on Sundays.
Many digital streaming platforms and regional broadcasters live coverage of matches.
