Men’s Asia Cup
- Thread starter ghazi52
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ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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- #32
Emotions run high as India and Pakistan face off in Asia Cup after May military conflict
Reuters
September 13, 2025
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and India’s Abhishek Sharma play shots during the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE. — AFP/Reuters
An India-Pakistan cricket match is always a blockbuster, but emotions will run even higher in Sunday’s Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year.
Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties had been suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in multi-team tournaments.
Political relations have deteriorated further since the clashes, with several former Indian players urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott what will be the first meeting between the teams since the recent hostilities.
While the threat of a boycott is over, sparks may fly with India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha ruling out dialling down aggression in the much-anticipated Group A fixture.
India, the reigning 20-over world champions, are firm favourites to retain their Asia Cup title and are determined not to let geopolitics derail their campaign.
“Once the BCCI said they are aligned with the government, we are here to play,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters on Friday. “Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think they have anything in mind apart from playing cricket and that’s what we focus on.”
India’s Kuldeep Yadav (R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of UAE’s Harshit Kaushik during the Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 international cricket match between United Arab Emirates and India at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on September 10. — AFP
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson also wants his team to stay focused, though the significance of the match is not lost on him.
“Being part of a highly-charged event is going to be exciting,” the New Zealander said this week. “From my perspective … it is about keeping everybody focused on the job at hand. That will be no different.
“We know India are obviously hugely confident and rightfully so. But we are very much focused on improving as a team day by day and not getting ahead of ourselves.”
India appears by far the strongest side in the eight-team tournament, having reinforced itself with the selection of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and top order batter Shubman Gill.
They were ruthless in their nine-wicket demolition of the United Arab Emirates, whom they routed for 57 in 13.1 overs before returning to chase down the target in 27 balls on Thursday.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Haris (C) celebrates his half century (50 runs) with his teammate Sahibzada Farhan (L) during the Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 international cricket match between Oman and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on September 12. — AFP
Pakistan also opened their account with an easy victory against Oman but their batting has been rather inconsistent. Pakistan are without former skippers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan but will take heart from winning a T20 tri-series in the UAE, also involving Afghanistan, before heading into the Asia Cup.
“We have been playing good cricket in the last two to three months and we just have to play good cricket,” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said on Friday. “If we can execute our plans for a long enough period, we are good enough to beat any team.”
ghazi52
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Thread starter
- #33
Wasim Akram tells Pakistan, India to forget noise and ‘enjoy’ Asia Cup clash
AFP
September 13, 2025
Pace bowling great Wasim Akram has urged Pakistan and India’s cricketers to ignore the noise and enjoy the game when they meet in a highly charged Asia Cup T20 match on Sunday.
The Group A match in Dubai is the first clash on the cricket field between the countries since a military conflict four months ago took relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours to their lowest point in decades.
India resisted calls to boycott the match between the pair, who have not played in any bilateral series since deadly attacks in Mumbai 2008.
“Enjoy, it’s a game of cricket,” legendary left-armer Akram told AFP of the match, which potentially could be the first of three high-octane meetings between the countries in the T20 tournament.
“Forget about everything other than cricket. One team will win, and one team will lose,” he said.
“Just enjoy the moment if you win the game. Pressure will come, enjoy that and show discipline because this is just a game. It’s for both teams and for both sets of fans.”
A full house of 25,000 is expected at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Akram recalled how he thrived in such pressure situations during his 19-year international career.
“I enjoyed every game against India, and so did players from the opposition,” said Akram, who led a Pakistan touring team to India in 1999 despite threats from extremists.
The 59-year-old was also part of Pakistan’s 1987 tour during which the two countries came close to war.
Akram advised an inexperienced Pakistan team to think of the bigger picture and not get carried away by the hype of playing T20 world champions and arch-rivals India.
Musings
Administrator
Took a shity little cricket match to activate your sad life? Lol
You sit their watching everything and cant even put a smiley up? Sad life - enjoy
Musings
Administrator
Unknown987
Registered Member
Need to get rid off Mosin Naqvi who is the single biggest threat to our cricket.He is completely corrupt and doesn’t deserve to be the head of PCB.
All these players are not capable playing international cricket.
I knew Pak would loose the moment the team was picked for the tournament.
All these players are not capable playing international cricket.
I knew Pak would loose the moment the team was picked for the tournament.
Mighty_Dragon_Strike
Trusted Member
I'd would look for 'sum' and 'all its parts' and circumstances that makes whole society corrupt not an individual!
PAk. cricket and economy, destroyed for good!
time to reset, political reset by making new provinces to empower ordinary citizens..
otherwise, we are way past our 'prescribed' life!
cricket is not a sports, its a betting sports.
For instance, laws were written in this sports to 'avoid' betting.. which is another way of saying, 'making betting legal'!
so, if betting goes out of hand, then, cricket development in a country like Pak. will also be difficult, as it does not offer equal opportunities to its all citizens
Unknown987
Registered Member
I have recently visited Pakistan and to tell you the truth it’s worse than my last visit in 2022 - electricity goes out several times a day-gas comes at a fixed time during the day-no clean water is available-food is not clean-even the mineral water from the bottle is not clean-roadwork are uncompleted leaving motorists no choice to use foot paths and any way to pass through -corruption is rampant in all departments it’s not surprising- my daughter was given 3day arrival visitor’s visa/ however she had the visa , so the guy at head of immigration unit called us in and said here take my personal phone and speak to me in the evening.I didn’t call as I knew he was trying to get some money.On the return we manage to a copy of my daughter’s new card for overseas.
NA71
Trusted Member
Indians knew they will easily defeat Pakistani team ...that why they played and won the match ....to give some sort of relief to million of millions sitting back home (may has just gone by ...so memories are fresh).
If there was a slightest possibly of Pakistan winning this game ....Indians would refused to go in ....
If there was a slightest possibly of Pakistan winning this game ....Indians would refused to go in ....
Musings
Administrator
Yaar its a game - nothing more.
Indians have to make drama of even playing a game. To politicize and highlight a false flag op was embarrassing. Not 1% proof but ye lets keep mentioning it and embarrassing ourselves......
NA71
Trusted Member
Bilkul sahi ....we played just a game but they made it a political event ...dragged in Indian military ...false flag incident...any way...if Pakistan somehow lift the cup ...they should dedicate the final to PAF and announce it loudly.
Sharma Ji
Elite Member
Good, man.. hope all well with you.
but post match no handshake vandshake, people not showing up for the presser.. good masaley-daar scene.
still pining for a 5 match red ball bilateral.
Yasser76
Elite Member
Why do you think Pak did not show up for the presser? Think there was any reason for this?
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