Both teams have opted to retain their winning combinations from their previous matches, entering the encounter with momentum on their side. Defending champions India cruised to a nine-wicket victory over the UAE, while Pakistan registered a commanding 93-run win against Oman.
This marks the first meeting between the two cricketing powerhouses since February and their first Asia Cup face-off since the 2023 edition, where India outclassed Pakistan by a massive 228-run margin.
However, the stakes go far beyond the cricketing rivalry this time. This is the first encounter between the two nations since their tense standoff in May, which brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of conflict. With tensions still simmering, the Dubai Police have announced stringent security protocols and strict entry regulations for the match.
The event’s security committee has urged fans to cooperate fully with authorities, respect local cultural norms, and adhere to the guidelines in place. “Violations may lead to severe penalties,” a statement from the committee read.
The stadium is expected to be packed to capacity as fans from both nations turn out in large numbers for one of cricket’s most emotionally charged rivalries.
Pakistan Playing XI: Salman Ali Agha (C), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim.
India Playing XI: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah