Pakistan elected to bat first against India in a highly anticipated Group A fixture of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams retained their line-ups from their opening victories in the tournament, with the clash drawing significant attention both on and off the field.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav on his 35th birthday, entered the contest fresh from a nine-wicket win over the UAE.
Pakistan, captained by Salman Agha, came in buoyed by a dominant 93-run victory over Oman. Neither side made changes to their playing elevens, reflecting confidence in their existing combinations.
Suryakumar Yadav said India would have preferred to bowl first but was content with the toss outcome.
“We played just one strip away, which was a nice wicket and better to bat on at night. It’s humid, so hoping for some dew,” he noted.
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha, meanwhile, explained his decision to bat first despite Dubai’s reputation as a chasing-friendly venue.
“We’ve been playing good cricket, very excited. Looks like a slow wicket. Just want to bat first and put runs on the board. Have been here for 20-odd days and used to the conditions,” he remarked.
In his pitch report, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar observed that the surface appeared drier than others at the venue, suggesting spin could play a decisive role.
Former coach Ravi Shastri agreed, noting that the slow nature of the pitch was reflected in both sides’ team selections.
Sunday’s encounter marked the first international meeting between India and Pakistan since heightened diplomatic tensions earlier this year.
The match followed a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people and prompted India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure across the border and in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a notification from the Union Sports Ministry, India is allowed to play Pakistan in ‘international and multilateral events’ but not in ‘bilateral sports events in each other’s country’.
The tension was evident at the toss, when Suryakumar and Agha refrained from shaking hands.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
This Group A clash promises not only high-octane cricket but also symbolic significance amid the political backdrop.
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