Asia Cup-2025: India and Pakistan will face each other for first time in final in tournament's history; what Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha said?
Despite a low total, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 11 runs in Super-4 encounter of Asia Cup-2025. This was a virtual semi-final as the winner was to advance to the final.
With this, India and Pakistan will face each other on Sunday for the first time in the tournament's history.
Shaheen Shah Afridi performed brilliantly in the do-or-die match against Bangladesh.
He took three wickets for 17 runs in four overs and scored 19 runs off 13 balls with the bat.
This India-Pakistan match in Dubai on Sunday will be historic. For the first time in the tournament's 41 years, the two teams will face each other in the final.
India is the most successful team in the Asia Cup, having won eight titles so far. Pakistan has only won twice (2000 and 2012).
India and Pakistan faced each other twice in 2005, and Pakistan lost both times. India has also defeated Pakistan twice in this Asia Cup.
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has a long history. Pakistan has a better record than India in Tests and ODIs, but India has the upper hand in T20s.
'I am very excited'
Following the victory, Afridi and captain Salman Ali Agha made statements at the presentation ceremony that quickly went viral on social media.
When asked about the final match, Afridi challenged Team India, saying, "We are ready."
When captain Salman Ali Agha was asked about the final against India, he said, "I am very excited about the final. We know what we need to do there and we have the potential to defeat any team. We are a good enough team to beat anyone and will try to do just that on Sunday."
India has won 12 of the 15 T20 matches played between the two teams, while Pakistan has won only three times. In Asia Cup T20 matches, India ghas defeated Pakistan in four of five encounters.
However, Pakistan has often displayed aggressiveness under pressure. This time too, the outcome will depend on the players' current form and match-day performance.
Prakash Kumar Pandey