Dubai (TNS) Will Pakistan or India become the Asian cricket champions, the decision will be made on Sunday, September 28 in Dubai. Pakistan and India will compete in the final for the first time in the history of the Asia Cup. In the 17 editions of the Asia Cup held in the past 41 years, Pakistan and India have never faced each other in the final. India reached the final 11 times, while Pakistan played the final 5 times but could not face each other. India won the Asia Cup cricket title the most 8 times, Sri Lanka 6 times and Pakistan only 2 times. Pakistan lost in the final three times, Pakistan last won the Asia Cup in 2012. Pakistan and India have faced each other 10 times in the Asia Cup so far, India won 8 times and Pakistan won 2 times. After defeating Bangladesh in the crucial semi-final, Pakistan is all set to defeat India in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 next Sunday. Bangladesh and Pakistan played well in the semi-final and the fans from both sides enjoyed the match. Pakistan could only score 135 runs in their 20-over innings. Bangladeshi bowlers performed brilliantly with the ball. Except for Haris, no Pakistani batsman could stay at the crease to play a big innings. Pakistan’s opening pair lost wickets early as usual, which increased the pressure on the incoming batting line. Bangladeshi bowlers were able to restrict the Pakistani team to only 135 runs. Haris played a good game for Pakistan. Shaheen Shah and M Nawaz helped Pakistan reach 135 runs in the last five overs. Bangladesh also did not get off to a good start. Their first wicket fell when their score was only 1 in the first over. Other Bangladeshi batsmen also failed to perform well with the bat and kept losing wickets. Shamim was the only Bangladeshi player who faced the Pakistani bowlers confidently and played good strokes. He was dismissed when his individual score was 30 off 35 balls. Rashid Hossain played a brilliant hit at the end. His hard hitting kept Bangladesh’s hopes of winning the match alive till the last over, but the required run rate made it impossible for his country to win in the semi-final. For Pakistan, Haris and Shaheen Shah Afridi performed outclass with the ball. Shaheen dismissed 4 and Haris 3 Bangladeshi players. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 11 runs. With a good win against Bangladesh in the semi-final, Pakistan is once again set to defeat India in the final next Sunday. It may be recalled that Pakistan has faced arch-rivals India twice in the Asia Cup 2025, losing both times. India easily defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets in the Asia Cup group match on September 14. In the match played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India easily achieved Pakistan’s target of 128 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav playing a responsible innings of 47 runs not out. The second match between the arch-rivals took place in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup, where India achieved Pakistan’s target of 172 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the 19th over. On September 24, Pakistan’s star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had said that the Green Shirts will reach the Asia Cup final and if they face arch-rivals India once again, they can defeat them too, they are ready to defeat any team that comes in the final.
