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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan head into Sunday&rsquo;s Asia Cup final against India with history on their side, having won more final face-offs against their arch-rivals in multi-nation tournaments.&nbsp;The neighbors have met five times in finals of events featuring five or more teams. Pakistan emerged victorious in three, while India won two. India clinched the 1985 Benson &amp; Hedges World Championship and the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup final. Pakistan lifted the Austral-Asia Cup in 1986 and 1994, before routing India by 180 runs in the 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval.&nbsp;This will be their first-ever meeting in an Asia Cup final. Strengths and weaknesses India&rsquo;s batting firepower remains their strongest asset, with Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav anchoring the top order and Hardik Pandya providing balance in the middle. But questions linger over their lower-order depth, particularly against quality pace.&nbsp;Pakistan, in contrast, are banking on their fast-bowling trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf to tilt the contest. Their batting, however, has lacked consistency, with Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub under pressure to deliver alongside skipper Salman Ali Agha.&nbsp;Form and milestones India have won two of the last four Asia Cups unbeaten. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh recently became the first Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20 internationals. Pakistan&rsquo;s Haris Rauf is the joint-leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 scalps.&nbsp;Likely line-ups India (probable): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.&nbsp;Pakistan (probable): Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Cricket

This is the first time the arch-rivals are meeting in the Asia Cup final.

Pakistan boast better finals record against India before Asia Cup decider

ISLAMABAD: India secured a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a high-stakes Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday.&nbsp;Pakistan set a target of 171 runs, bolstered by Sahibzada Farhan&rsquo;s impressive 58 off 45 balls and late hitting from Faheem Ashraf and captain Salman Ali Agha. Despite a solid start, Pakistan&rsquo;s bowlers were unable to rein in India&#39;s aggressive chase.&nbsp;The chase was dominated by a fiery 74 from Abishek Sharma, who struck five sixes and six fours at a blistering strike rate of 189.74. His 105-run partnership with Shubman Gill (47) laid the foundation for a successful run chase, before Faheem Ashraf finally broke the stand.&nbsp;Off the field, tensions flared further when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan following the toss, adding to an already charged atmosphere between the two teams.&nbsp;India&#39;s victory strengthens their position in the Super Four stage of the tournament.

Pakistan's 171 falls short as Abishek's 74 guides India to victory in the Asia Cup.

Sharma’s 74 guides India to six-wicket victory over Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan will face off in the 14th match of the Men&rsquo;s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four stage on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;The match will start at 7:30 p.m. local time.&nbsp;Recent resultsIndia is leading Group A after winning all three group matches, earning six points with a net run rate of 3.547, including defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Pakistan.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Pakistan holds second place with four points, winning two of three games; their only loss was to India. Pakistan won against the UAE and Oman.&nbsp;Possible squadIndia&rsquo;s squad is captained by Suryakumar Yadav, with vice-captain Shubman Gill. Batters include Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh while bowlers include Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp; Axar Patel is part of the squad but may miss the game due to a recent head injury. The Pakistani side will be captained by Salman Agha, supported by batters Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan. The bowling line-up features Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Hasan Nawaz.&nbsp;VenueUmpires Asif Yaqoob and Rohan Pandit will officiate, with Virender Sharma as TV umpire. Andy Pycroft will serve as match referee.&nbsp;The game will be played under floodlights in a 20-over format, with an interval between innings.&nbsp;Political context and rivalry Historically, India-Pakistan cricket matches carry political and emotional significance beyond the sport. The rivalry has been marked by tension in recent years, with incidents such as India&rsquo;s players not shaking hands with Pakistan&rsquo;s team after their group match this tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spoke about breaches in conduct and governance by the Indian side. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) found no protocol violations in the disputed incidents.&nbsp;Group A points table<table id="isPasted"><thead><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">Team</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">Matches Played</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">Wins</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">Losses</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">Points</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">Net Run Rate</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">India</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">3</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">0</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">6</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">3.547</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">Pakistan</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">2</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">1</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">4</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">1.790</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">United Arab Emirates</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">1</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">2</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">2</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">-1.984</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 30.5383%;">Oman</td><td style="width: 22.2561%;">3</td><td style="width: 8.6877%;">0</td><td style="width: 10.428%;">3</td><td style="width: 9.6581%;">0</td><td style="width: 18.3812%;">-2.600</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;The Asia Cup final is scheduled for September 28.

The Asia Cup final is scheduled for September 28.

India-Pakistan Asia Cup showdown: Politics fuels drama 

ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka cruised to a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Thursday, knocking the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinalists out of the Asia Cup and topping Group B with their third straight win. Bangladesh also advanced to the Super 4 with two wins.&nbsp;Kusal Mendis anchored the chase with an unbeaten 74 off 52 balls, guiding Sri Lanka to 171-4 with more than an over to spare. His calm dismantling of Afghanistan&rsquo;s spin trio, particularly Noor Ahmad (1-37) and Rashid Khan (0-23), kept the run-chase in control.&nbsp;Earlier, Mohammad Nabi gave Afghanistan late hope with a blistering 60 off just 22 balls, smashing five sixes in the final over bowled by Dunith Wellalage. Despite Nabi&rsquo;s 46 runs in the last two overs, Afghanistan could only post 169-8 after being reduced to 114-7.&nbsp;Nuwan Thushara (4-18) starred with the ball, demolishing Afghanistan&rsquo;s top order during the powerplay. Kusal Perera&rsquo;s sharp fielding added to Afghanistan&rsquo;s woes, including two key catches.&nbsp;Mendis was supported by Kusal Perera (28) and Kamindu Mendis (26*), with Sri Lanka finishing comfortably.&nbsp;Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan admitted, &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t bowl as well as we should have. Expectations were to at least reach the next round.&rdquo;&nbsp;Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka hailed it as &ldquo;almost a perfect game,&rdquo; aside from Nabi&rsquo;s final over heroics.

Kusal Mendis' unbeaten 74 and Nuwan Thushara’s 4-wicket haul powered Sri Lanka to a commanding win over Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka eliminate Afghanistan with six-wicket Asia Cup win

Reuters

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Agha said his team were ready to face India in the next round of the Asia Cup on Sunday after last week&#39;s group-stage match between the arch-rivals ended in acrimony when the Indian side refused to shake hands.&nbsp;Pakistan beat the United Arab Emirates in their final Group A game on Wednesday to advance to the Super Fours stage, where they will also play two teams from Group B in a round robin format.&nbsp;Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2013, and they play each other only in multi-team tournaments.&nbsp;&quot;We are ready, we are ready for any challenge,&quot; Salman said after their 41-run victory against the UAE.&nbsp;&quot;We just want to play good cricket. If we play good cricket, like we have played in the last few months, I think we&#39;ll be good against any side.&quot;&nbsp;Fakhar Zaman made 50, but Pakistan&#39;s frontline batters disappointed against the UAE&#39;s modest attack with opener Saim Ayub falling for his third successive duck in the tournament.&nbsp;Salman acknowledged they had to bat better.&nbsp;&quot;We got the job done, but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order,&quot; Salman said.&nbsp;&quot;That&#39;s been a concern and something we need to work on.&quot;&nbsp;India had cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan last weekend in the first cricket match between the sides since a four-day military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.&nbsp;While the match itself passed without incident, there was no shaking of hands between the captains at the toss or among the players at the end.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pakistan Cricket Board called for match referee Andy Pycroft&#39;s immediate removal for a code of conduct &quot;violation&quot; and considered withdrawing from the tournament before going ahead with Wednesday&#39;s match.&nbsp;India and Pakistan could meet for a third time at the tournament if they both reach the September 28 final.

The two arch-rivals are set to meet again on Sunday, Sept. 21, in the Super Four round.

Pakistan gearing up for India rematch in Asia Cup: Agha

ISLAMABAD: International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Andy Pycroft has formally apologized to the Pakistan cricket team&rsquo;s captain and manager following a post-match handshake controversy involving India, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Wednesday.&nbsp;The apology comes after tensions escalated during the Asia Cup 2025, particularly after Pakistan&rsquo;s politically charged Group A match against archrival India. In the aftermath of India&#39;s victory, Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with the Pakistani side, fueling criticism from the PCB over what it described as a &quot;lack of sportsmanship.&quot;&nbsp;Pakistan had earlier lodged a complaint with the ICC, calling for the removal of Pycroft as match referee, citing concerns over his handling of the situation. The issue was compounded by already heightened tensions between the two nations following recent military clashes in May.&nbsp;&ldquo;The ICC match referee Andy Pycroft has apologized to our team captain and manager regarding the handshake incident,&rdquo; said Naqvi, who also serves as the country&#39;s interior minister and currently heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).&nbsp;The controversy had also delayed Pakistan&#39;s next match against the United Arab Emirates, as the team initially refused to leave their hotel in protest until clarity was provided by the ICC.&nbsp;With the apology now issued, Pakistan is expected to continue its participation in the tournament, though the political undertones remain a point of concern as the Asia Cup progresses.

Pakistan's handshake dispute with India delays start of its Asia Cup cricket game against UAE

Asia Cup 2025: Andy Pycroft apologises to Pakistan amid India handshake row

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet made a final decision regarding the national team&#39;s continued participation in the Asia Cup, PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir confirmed on Tuesday.&nbsp; However, Mir said that consultations are ongoing, and a final decision will be made soon.&nbsp;&quot;The decision will be made keeping Pakistan&#39;s interests in view,&quot; Mir said, amid growing tensions following a controversial incident during Pakistan&rsquo;s group-stage match against India on Sunday. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1968026870185857313&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3aa1dd5d669953a0a4395babb647158f4d8a5102&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 417px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The PCB recently filed an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of violating the &ldquo;Spirit of Cricket&rdquo; by allegedly instructing the captains of Pakistan and India not to shake hands at the toss, a gesture widely regarded as a symbol of sportsmanship.&nbsp;In a related move, the PCB cancelled the team&rsquo;s scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday&rsquo;s crucial fixture against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Tournament organizers later confirmed the cancellation, saying: &ldquo;Pakistan will not be holding their pre-match press conference today.&rdquo;&nbsp;The incident has sparked strong reactions from fans and former players across Pakistan. While some fans have urged the team to continue in the tournament, others have demanded a boycott in protest of what they allege to be biased officiating.&nbsp;Despite the ongoing controversy, the PCB released footage of the team attending practice sessions, suggesting that, for now, Pakistan is still preparing to play its next match.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967973643348263279&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3aa1dd5d669953a0a4395babb647158f4d8a5102&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 578px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Having lost to India by six wickets in a rain-affected encounter, Pakistan must now win against the UAE to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the Super Four stage of the continental tournament.

Team still training ahead of must-win match against UAE, amid consultations.

PCB yet to decide on Asia Cup participation amid controversy

ISLAMABAD: The Asia Cup 2025 witnessed an action-packed day on Monday as the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka recorded vital wins to stay on course for a place in the Super Four stage.&nbsp;Sri Lanka overcame a middle-order collapse to secure its second consecutive victory in the Asia Cup on Monday, edging past a spirited Hong Kong side by four wickets.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, the UAE earned their first points in the tournament with a 42-run win over debutants Oman.&nbsp;Chasing 150 for victory, Sri Lanka reached 153-6 with seven balls to spare, thanks to opener Pathum Nissanka&rsquo;s second successive half-century and a crucial late cameo from Wanindu Hasaranga.&nbsp;Nissanka followed up his fifty against Bangladesh with a composed 68, but his run-out in the 16th over sparked a dramatic collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose four wickets for just eight runs, slipping to 127-6.&nbsp;However, Hasaranga kept his composure to guide Sri Lanka home, smashing 20 runs off just nine balls, including two boundaries and a straight six. Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza impressed with figures of 2-37.&nbsp;Hong Kong posted 149-4, anchored by an unbeaten 52 from Nizakat Khan and a steady 48 from opener Anshy Rath. The pair added 61 runs for the third wicket, but Sri Lankan spinners Maheesh Theekshana (0-22) and Hasaranga (1-27) tightened the screws during the middle overs.&nbsp;Dushmantha Chameera (2-29) played a key role in the death overs, dismissing Rath when he holed out at deep midwicket attempting to accelerate the scoring.&nbsp;UAE registers first win, ends Oman&rsquo;s Super 4 hopesIn the earlier match, UAE openers Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu set the foundation with solid half-centuries, guiding their team to a total of 172-5 and sealing their first win of the tournament. Sharafu adapted well to the slow pitch, charging down the track during the power play en route to his 51, while Waseem capitalized on a couple of dropped chances to score 69. Oman, in response, was bowled out for 130 with eight balls remaining, extinguishing their hopes of advancing to the Super 4 stage. Captain Jatinder Singh, on 20, dragged a delivery from fast bowler Junaid Siddique (4-23) onto his stumps, triggering a collapse that saw Oman lose three wickets in 14 balls. Siddique took two wickets in the powerplay, while spinner Haider Ali (2-22) struck twice inside the first six overs as Oman slipped to 50-5.

Asia Cup 2025 witnesses an action-packed day on Monday as the UAE and Sri Lanka recorded vital wins to stay on course for a place in the Super Four stage.

Sri Lanka, UAE register wins to boost Asia Cup Super Four hopes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove match referee from the ongoing Asia Cup following the handshake controversy that surfaced after Pakistan-India match. In a formal complaint lodged with the ICC, PCB said Pakistan will not play in the Asia Cup if the match referee, Andy Pycroft, was not removed immediately. Neither the captains of the two teams shook hands after the toss nor the teams did it after the match ended. The PCB also expressed frustration with pre-match protocols. Officials said Pycroft had advised both the captains not to shake hands at the toss.<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 320px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967506160015258020&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a970db63a599ce537b8800a59741febf4ce8c8d2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1967506160015258020"></iframe></div>Violation of spiritThe PCB has described Pycroft&rsquo;s act as a &ldquo;violation of the spirit&rdquo; of cricket and the Marylebone Cricket Club rulebook of 1788. &ldquo;No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game&rsquo;s spirit and long-standing traditions,&rdquo; the PCB stated in its letter. The letter stated that Pycroft &ldquo;failed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee&rdquo; in violation of the ICC Code of Conduct as could not ensure handshake between the players. Pakistan&rsquo;s concerns escalated after India secured a seven-wicket victory on Sunday. While the Indian players congratulated each other at the dugout, they refrained from acknowledging or shaking hands with the Pakistani team. Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha did not attend the post-match presentation ceremony, breaking from broadcast norms where captains usually share their thoughts. Head coach of the Pakistan cricket team Mike Hesson explained that the reason Salman was absent from the ceremony was because of the Indian team&rsquo;s &ldquo;disappointing&rdquo; conduct at the end of the match. Follow-on effect&ldquo;It was a follow-on effect of the fact that we were obviously keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match, but that obviously didn&rsquo;t happen,&rdquo; Hesson said. PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi on Monday on his X account said: &ldquo;It was utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 296px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967324325570359514&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a970db63a599ce537b8800a59741febf4ce8c8d2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1967324325570359514">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,&rdquo; he added.

Pakistan Cricket Board urges ICC to remove referee Pycroft after handshake ban in Asia Cup 2025 sparks sportsmanship controversy.

Pakistan demands ICC remove referee over Asia Cup handshake snub

DUBAI: Spinners led by Kuldeep Yadav helped India thrash Pakistan by seven wickets in the Asia Cup on Sunday as the neighbors met on the cricket pitch for the first time since a military conflict between them in May. Kuldeep returned figures of 3-18 and along with fellow spinner Axar Patel kept Pakistan down to 127-9 in a key Group A T20 clash in Dubai. India lost two wickets after a fiery 31 off 13 balls from opener Abhishek Sharma, but skipper Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten 47 to achieve the target with 25 balls to spare. Suryakumar put on 56 runs with left-hander Tilak Varma, who hit 31 before being bowled by Saim Ayub. The captain stood firm and hit the winning six as Indian fans celebrated at a stadium, which had lot of empty seats, and the players from both teams went off without handshakes. Abhishek came out roaring as he hit Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi for a four and a six and, despite the fall of Shubman Gill in the next over, kept up the charge. Swashbuckling Abhishek cracked four boundaries and two sixes before he mistimed another attempt for a maximum to be caught at long-off off spinner Ayub. India&rsquo;s bowlers set up the dominant win as Axar, who took 2-18, and Kuldeep combined to rattle the opposition batting, which suffered from a lack of partnerships. Hardik Pandya struck in the first over to dismiss opener Ayub for a golden duck and fellow quick Jasprit Bumrah sent back wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris for three. Sahibzada Farhan, who top-scored with 40, attempted to rebuild the innings along with Fakhar Zaman, who made 17, in a partnership of 39. Axar broke the stand with his left-arm spin as he got Zaman caught out and in his next over had skipper Salman Agha out for three. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep came into the attack and struck twice on successive balls to pack off Hasan Nawaz (5) and Mohammad Nawaz (0) as Pakistan slipped to 64-6 inside 13 overs. Wickets kept tumbling, but number nine Afridi took on the opposition attack with four sixes in his unbeaten 33 off 16 balls to push the total past 120 and play out Pakistan&rsquo;s full 20 overs. India, with two wins from two, are nearly through to the next Super Fours stage of the tournament with their final group match against Oman on Friday. Pakistan play hosts United Arab Emirates next and despite the defeat are expected to make the next stage. India resisted calls to boycott the T20 clash between the nations, who have not played in any bilateral series since deadly attacks in Mumbai in 2008 were blamed on Pakistan-based militants. The hostilities in May this year left more than 70 people dead in missile, drone and artillery exchanges, before a ceasefire.

Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls as India chased 128 with 25 balls remaining.

Articles tagged with "2025 Asia Cup"