A place in the final of the 17th edition of the Asia Cup hangs in the balance as Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in a must-win encounter in Dubai on Thursday (Sept 25).
With India already securing their berth in the final after an unbeaten run in the Super Fours, this match has effectively become a knockout for the remaining spot.
This edition of the Asia Cup is being contested in the T20 format — a change from its traditional 50-over structure — and is being hosted in the United Arab Emirates.
Since its inception in 1984, the tournament has largely seen India and Sri Lanka dominate the final stages, with Pakistan and India never having met in an Asia Cup final.
Pakistan come into the clash buoyed by a strong performance against Sri Lanka, where left-arm quick Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with figures of 3-28. The fiery pacer has been vocal about Pakistan’s ambitions, declaring, “We are here to win the cup. Whichever team comes in the final, we are ready to beat them.”
Despite India’s dominance over Pakistan in recent international encounters — having won 12 of the 15 T20Is and all seven matches across formats since September 2022 — Pakistan remain confident. Afridi dismissed Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s recent claim that “India-Pakistan is not a rivalry anymore,” calling it “his opinion.”
With momentum on their side and Hussain Talat impressing in the last outing with both bat and ball, Pakistan are expected to stick with their winning combination.
Predicted Pakistan XI:
Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (captain), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, come into the clash needing to bounce back from a defeat to India. The Tigers made several changes in that match, including resting key names like Litton Das, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Mahedi Hasan.
Litton Das is expected to return to lead the side in the do-or-die contest, while Bangladesh may opt for a blend of youth and experience. Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan will look to provide a stable start, while the middle order featuring Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain must deliver under pressure.
Their bowling attack, likely to feature Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Sakib, must be disciplined to contain Pakistan's explosive top order.
Predicted Bangladesh XI:
Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (captain, wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman.
While India have dominated the headlines with their form and drama-filled encounters, Thursday’s clash offers a different flavour — a straight fight for survival. Bangladesh, known for their unpredictability, have defeated Pakistan in key moments before, especially in shorter formats.
For Pakistan, this is not just about reaching the final — it’s about setting up a potential grudge match against India, a fixture that has captured global attention but never materialised in an Asia Cup final.
With pressure mounting and the stakes sky-high, the Dubai International Stadium is set for a thrilling showdown as both sides aim for a shot at the title.
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