Asia Cup 2025 Fixtures Unveiled: Dates, Venues & India-Pakistan Blockbuster You Can’t Miss

Dubai lights up for a blockbuster finish to the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 as arch-rivals India and Pakistan lock horns in Sunday’s title clash after Babar Azam’s men edged Bangladesh by 11 runs in their last Super 4 outing to book the second ticket to the final. The trans-border showdown, scheduled for 28 September at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, will be the first India-Pakistan final in the tournament’s 41-year history and is already being touted as the most-watched T20 contest outside a World Cup. Tournament snapshot • Dates: 9–28 September 2025 • Format: Two groups of three, followed by a Super 4 round and the final • Venue cluster: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah • Matches played: 18; India unbeaten, Pakistan 4-1 win-loss record • Defending champions: Sri Lanka (eliminated in Super 4) Road to the final India marched through Group A with emphatic wins over UAE and Pakistan, then defeated Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the Super 4s. Hardik Pandya’s all-round form (175 runs, 8 wickets) and Kuldeep Yadav’s middle-overs squeeze have been decisive. Pakistan recovered from a group-stage defeat to India by toppling Sri Lanka before sealing progression against Bangladesh last night thanks to Shaheen Afridi’s death-over yorkers (3-21) and Mohammad Rizwan’s measured 67. Head-to-head at Asia Cups • Matches: 15 • India wins: 8 • Pakistan wins: 6 • No result: 1 India have won the last three Asia Cup meetings, but Pakistan’s only T20 Asia Cup title (2020) also came against India in the final, setting the stage for another classic duel. Key battles to watch 1. Rohit Sharma vs Shaheen Afridi – Power-play fireworks v left-arm swing. 2. Virat Kohli vs Shadab Khan – Run-machine against Pakistan’s leg-spin lynchpin. 3. Babar Azam vs Jasprit Bumrah – Tactical chess in the power-play; Bumrah has dismissed Babar four times in T20Is. 4. Hardik Pandya vs Haris Rauf – India’s finishing force against Pakistan’s pace enforcer at the death. Likely XIs India: Rohit (c), Shubman Gill, Kohli, Suryakumar, Pant (wk), Hardik, Jadeja, Axar, Kuldeep, Bumrah, Siraj. Pakistan: Babar (c), Saim Ayub, Rizwan (wk), Fakhar, Iftikhar, Shadab, Imad, Afridi, Naseem, Rauf, Abrar. Pitch and conditions Dubai has offered true bounce and slightly more grip under lights. Dew is expected after 8 pm GST, meaning the toss winner will likely chase. Par score: 175. How to watch live • TV: Star Sports (India), PTV Sports (Pakistan), Willow TV (USA). • Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar, Tamasha App, YuppTV (MENA). • Start time: 6:30 pm local (8:00 pm IST, 7:30 pm PKT, 2:30 pm UTC). What’s at stake Apart from continental bragging rights, the clash is a dress rehearsal for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia next year. Both boards have confirmed that performances here will weigh heavily on final squad selections. Victory will also deliver a US $150,000 winner’s purse and crucial ranking points; India can leapfrog England to reclaim No. 1 in the ICC T20I rankings with a win, while Pakistan climb to No. 2 if they triumph. Quote-unquote “India-Pakistan matches are about holding your nerve; we’ve done that so far and want to finish unbeaten,” said India skipper Rohit Sharma after their Super 4 sweep. “We’ve waited 41 years for this final. Our fans deserve a trophy and we’re ready,” echoed Pakistan captain Babar Azam in the post-match presser last night. Fans, fret not over sold-out tickets: the Emirates Cricket Board has installed additional fan zones at Dubai Marina Mall and Burj Park with giant screens, food trucks and midnight public transport extensions to accommodate late-night revelry. With both teams peaking at the right time, Sunday’s finale promises high-octane drama, big-match temperament and a ratings bonanza. Bookmark your calendars, prep the popcorn and brace for an Asia Cup final that could redefine the India-Pakistan rivalry for the T20 era.