Pakistan face Bangladesh on Thursday in an eliminator ahead of Sunday’s final of the 2025 Asia Cup, where India await.
Who: Pakistan vs Bangladesh
What: T20 Asia Cup Super Fours
When: Thursday, September 25 at 6:30pm (14:30 GMT)
Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport’s live build-up begins at 10:30 GMT before our comprehensive text commentary stream.
Pakistan pace bowler and former captain Shaheen Shah Afridi says his team is ready to give a “complete effort” to lift the 2025 Asia Cup, with a potentially mouth-watering rematch against India in prospect in Sunday’s final.
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Pakistan survived a wobble against Sri Lanka in their second match at the Super Fours stage to keep alive their campaign with a five-wicket win in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
India, who face Sri Lanka on Friday in their final Super Fours match, beat Bangladesh by 41 runs in Dubai on Wednesday to secure their place in the final with a game to spare in the current stage.
Pakistan and Bangladesh will now compete in what is effectively an eliminator on Thursday ahead of the final.
India and Pakistan have met twice in this edition of the regional competition, but the neighbours have never played against each other in an Asia Cup final.
The tournament, played this time in the UAE under the Twenty20 format, started as a one-day international (ODI) championship in 1984, and this is its 17th edition.
India are the holders and they beat Pakistan in both previous matches during this edition, but left-arm seamer Shaheen was in a bullish mood after taking 3-28 against Sri Lanka.
“We are here to win the cup, whichever team comes in the final, we are ready to beat them,” Shaheen said before India’s victory against Bangladesh.
If Pakistan do reach the final, India will once again start as strong favourites having won 12 of 15 T20Is between the two countries.
India have also won the last seven internationals against Pakistan since September 2022, four T20Is and three ODIs.
That sequence prompted India skipper Suryakumar Yadav to declare that India-Pakistan “is not a rivalry any more”.
In both wins for India in the UAE, there were no handshakes, adding another layer to an already intense rivalry.
“It is his opinion that … Let him say that,” said Shaheen of Suryakumar’s cutting remarks.
“Our job is to win the Asia Cup, and we will make a complete effort to do that.”
Form guide: Pakistan
Last five results (most recent first): W L W L W
Form guide: Bangladesh
Last five results (most recent first): L W W L W
Team news: Pakistan
Despite the criticism over their decision to replace Hasan Nawaz with Hussain Talat, Pakistan stuck with the pace-bowling all-rounder. Talat delivered two wickets and scored 32 runs to help seal the win against Sri Lanka and should keep his place in the XI.
Predicted Pakistan XI:
Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (captain), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Team news: Bangladesh
The Tigers rang the changes for their last match against India, having fielded the same two sides previous to that.
Captain and wicketkeeper Litton Das was the most glaring omission from the side beaten by India, with Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed and Shak Mahedi Hasan also missing out.
Jaker Ali took over as captain and keeper for the India match, while Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan Sakib were all drafted in as cover.
Predicted Bangladesh XI:
Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (captain, wicketkeeper), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman.