Dubai, September 14, 2025: Pakistan have set a 128-run target for India in their high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bat first, but his side faltered against India’s disciplined bowling attack. The Green Shirts lost early wickets when Saim Ayub was dismissed by Hardik Pandya, while Jasprit Bumrah sent Mohammad Haris back to the pavilion.
India’s spinners then took control, with Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel dismantling Pakistan’s middle order. The duo claimed five wickets between them, removing Fakhar Zaman, Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, and Faheem Ashraf to restrict Pakistan to a modest total.
The fixture carries added weight as it comes months after a four-day military clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours earlier this year. Bilateral cricket ties remain suspended, with Pakistan and India now meeting only in multi-nation tournaments.
India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, entered the contest as favourites. Their squad has been further strengthened with the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and in-form opener Shubman Gill. India’s dominance was on display earlier in the tournament when they crushed the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets, chasing a 58-run target in just 27 balls.
Pakistan, meanwhile, began their Asia Cup campaign with a comfortable win over Oman but have struggled with inconsistency. The absence of former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has left a void in the batting lineup, though the side will take confidence from their recent T20 tri-series triumph in the UAE, which also featured Afghanistan.
Historically, India hold the upper hand in T20 Internationals, winning 10 out of 13 matches against Pakistan. However, at the Dubai venue, Pakistan have enjoyed success in recent years, winning two of the last three encounters — including their famous victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
