Asia Cup 2025: All Eyes on India vs Pakistan Clash Amid Political Tensions;

As the Asia Cup 2025 kicks off this Tuesday, the cricketing world is already looking ahead to Sunday — when arch-rivals India and Pakistan lock horns in what promises to be the tournament’s most electrifying encounter. Despite the tournament featuring top teams from across the continent, the India vs Pakistan match remains the marquee fixture. And this time, the stakes are even higher, given the recent escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Their clash in Dubai marks the first meeting since a near-war situation earlier this year, which ended in a fragile ceasefire brokered by international mediators. The sporting rivalry between India and Pakistan is steeped in history, politics, and emotion. It has been nearly 18 years since the two sides met in a Test match and more than a decade since they played a bilateral series. While political tensions have frozen regular cricketing ties since 2013, global and regional tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC World Cups continue to serve as rare stages for their encounters. Between September 14 and 21, if results go the way fans and organisers hope, India and Pakistan could face each other up to three times — once in the group stage, possibly in the Super 4s, and again in the final. However, despite 16 editions of the Asia Cup since 1984, the two sides have never met in a final. So why can’t India and Pakistan play regular bilateral series, yet share the field in major tournaments? “It’s all about maximising viewership and revenue,” says Sami Ul Hasan, former ICC media head. “When the ICC plans a global event, they ensure India and Pakistan are placed in the same group, regardless of rankings.” Indeed, the ICC has acknowledged tweaking tournament formats in the past to ensure at least one India-Pakistan match. These games routinely break viewership records. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between the rivals generated over 26 billion minutes of watch time, surpassing even the 2023 World Cup clash, which recorded 19.5 billion. Broadcasters and sponsors are quick to invest, knowing that India-Pakistan matches attract massive global attention. Revenues from these games are shared among ICC and ACC member nations, which increases the incentive for organisers to facilitate more encounters between the two teams — especially in tournaments like the Asia Cup, where formats are easier to adjust. However, fans of other nations often feel overlooked. “I don’t care about India vs Pakistan,” says Mohammad Akram, a passionate Sri Lankan fan. “For us, it’s all about Sri Lanka winning the cup.” And rightly so — Sri Lanka have been a dominant force in the Asia Cup, appearing in a record 13 finals and winning six titles, just one short of India’s tally. While the spotlight will inevitably shine brightest on Sunday’s clash, the Asia Cup remains a battleground for regional pride across all participating nations. Still, for millions, the heart of the tournament beats to the rhythm of one fixture: India vs Pakistan.

SPORT