Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan vs India Set for High-Voltage Clash on September 21
Dubai: Cricket fans worldwide are gearing up for one of the most anticipated encounters of the year as arch-rivals Pakistan and India face each other in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage on September 21 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Kuldeep Yadav Praises Shaheen Afridi
Ahead of the clash, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav acknowledged Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Afridi as a major threat.
“Shaheen is in excellent form, and even a small mistake against him can prove costly,” Kuldeep said during a press conference, adding that motivation levels are always high in matches against Pakistan.
The teams last met on September 14, where India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets after chasing down a modest 128-run target. Despite the loss, both sides have already secured their spots in the Super Four stage.
Group Stage Recap
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India will complete their Group A fixtures against Oman on Friday.
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Sri Lanka dominated Group B, winning all three matches to top the table with six points.
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Bangladesh claimed the second spot with two victories, despite a negative net run rate.
Handshake Controversy Adds Spice
The upcoming clash has an added layer of tension following the handshake controversy in the earlier fixture. The International Cricket Council (ICC) referee Andy Pycroft had instructed both teams to skip the customary handshake before the match — and the Indian team later refused to shake hands even after the game ended.
This led to Pakistan filing an official protest with the ICC. However, the issue was later resolved when the referee apologised, and both teams agreed to move forward with the tournament.
Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Schedule
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Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka — Dubai, September 20
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Pakistan vs India — Dubai, September 21
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Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Abu Dhabi, September 23
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Bangladesh vs India — Dubai, September 24
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Pakistan vs Bangladesh — Dubai, September 25
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India vs Sri Lanka — Dubai, September 26
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Final — Dubai, September 28
