T20 captain suryakumar yadav during a press conference in Mumbai. File | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
“India is playing Pakistan, right? When are they meeting?”
The immigration officer at Delhi airport posed a quick query on finding out the purpose of travel to the United Arab Emirates. Geopolitical realities, in the aftermath of a four-day military conflict between the neighbours in May that followed a terror attack in Pahalgam, may have cast doubts on the Asia Cup in the months leading up, but now that the 17th edition of the continental event is getting underway on Tuesday (September 9, 2025), there can be no disputing the fixture that will occupy centrestage over the next three weeks.
As has been the case in multi-nation tournaments for the past decade, it is not by coincidence that India — the official host — and Pakistan have been drawn together in Group A alongside United Arab Emirates and debutant Oman. It means that Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will have to slug it out to be among the two teams from Group B, also comprising Hong Kong, that advance to the next stage. If things go according to plan, India will face Pakistan once more in the Super Four phase, with a third meeting possible provided both teams enter the summit clash on September 28.
Beyond the big draw that India versus Pakistan continues to be in the eyes of the organisers even though recent contests suggest otherwise, the Asia Cup’s survival has been helped by its flexibility since 2016 in switching between the 50-over and T20 versions based on the demands of the cricketing calendar.
The previous event in 2023, won by India, was held in the 50-over format ahead of the ODI World Cup that year. This edition, featuring eight sides for the first time in the competition’s four-decade existence, will be a T20 affair to facilitate preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan will take on Hong Kong in the opener at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The Men in Blue, who won the T20 World Cup last year, will kick off their campaign against UAE in Dubai on Wednesday. After a prolonged break from national duty since the end of the Test series against England on August 4, India’s players will be eager to get back into competitive mode at a venue where they have fond memories of winning the ICC Champions Trophy just six months ago. That there is intense competition for places is distinctly clear from the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer in the 15-member contingent.
Based on recent evidence, there is no obvious challenger to India’s might. Sri Lanka was skittled out for 80 in a five-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe on September 6 while Afghanistan and Pakistan blew hot and cold in the just-concluded tri-series that the latter won. Bangladesh has interestingly got the better of both Pakistan and Sri Lanka of late, but it has shown a worrying trend of faltering in crunch situations against India.
If there is a ray of hope for these teams, it is that pre-tournament expectations don’t always play out at the Asia Cup. After all, there has never been an India-Pakistan final in all these years.
Published – September 08, 2025 04:21 PM is
Of course. Here is the rewritten news article, crafted for the Pacific Daily News with journalistic excellence and a focus on our readers.
Asia Cup 2025 Kicks Off: India-Pakistan Rivalry Takes Center Stage in UAE
The 17th edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament is set to begin, promising three weeks of high-stakes action and one of sports’ greatest rivalries.
The Fixture Everyone Is Asking About
An immigration officer at Delhi airport captured the anticipation perfectly, asking a traveler, “India is playing Pakistan, right? When are they meeting?”
Despite recent geopolitical tensions, the show goes on. The continental cricket championship gets underway on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in the United Arab Emirates, with the iconic India-Pakistan clash once again poised to be the main event.
Tournament Format and Key Groups
This year marks a significant expansion for the four-decade-old competition, featuring eight teams for the very first time. The groups are structured as follows:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Oman
- Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, setting the stage for multiple high-voltage encounters.
India vs. Pakistan: A Potential Triple Header
Cricket fans could be treated to a feast of rivalry matches. The arch-rivals are slated to meet at least twice:
- Once in the initial group stage.
- Once more in the Super Four phase.
- A third blockbuster match is possible if both teams power their way into the final on September 28.
More Than Just a Rivalry
Beyond the headline-grabbing fixture, the Asia Cup has adapted to the modern cricket calendar. The 2025 edition will be played in the T20 format, serving as crucial preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The tournament opener will see Afghanistan take on Hong Kong at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
India’s Title Defense Begins
The reigning T20 World Cup champions, Team India, begin their campaign against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday. After a break from national duty, the team returns to a venue where they celebrated victory in the ICC Champions Trophy just six months ago.
The selection itself highlights the intense competition for spots, with notable omissions like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer from the 15-member squad.
Who Can Challenge the Favorites?
On paper, India appears dominant. Other traditional powerhouses have shown recent vulnerability:
- Sri Lanka suffered a surprising defeat to Zimbabwe.
- Pakistan and Afghanistan showed inconsistent form in a recent tri-series.
- Bangladesh has recorded wins but often stumbles in crucial moments against India.
However, as history has shown, pre-tournament expectations rarely tell the whole story. In a surprising twist, there has never been an India-Pakistan final in the history of the Asia Cup.
Stay with Pacific Daily News for complete coverage of the Asia Cup 2025. We bring you live updates, expert analysis, and exclusive insights straight from the UAE, keeping you connected to every match and moment that matters to cricket fans in the Pacific and beyond.
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