Entertainment
Arch-rivals Pakistan, India set for high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai
- All tickets sold out for Pak-India Asia Cup final.
- Dubai police issue strict rules ahead of final.
- Agha vows Pakistan’s best show in final.
The stage is set for the grandest showdown of Asian cricket as arch-rivals Pakistan and India face each other in the Asia Cup final for the very first time in the tournament’s history on Sunday.
This evening, the Dubai Sports City Stadium will be transformed into a cauldron of passion, pressure, and pride as the two most celebrated cricketing nations in the region battle for continental supremacy.
The stakes could not be higher, not only because of the glittering trophy at stake but also due to the political undertones and controversies that have marred the lead-up to the final.
The past two weeks have been a rollercoaster. India captain Suryakumar Yadav’s refusal to shake hands after a tense group-stage win and his political remarks at the prize distribution ceremony sparked uproar, drawing strong responses from Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, whose gestures on the field fueled the fire.
While India have been in commanding form, winning both their Super Four matches convincingly, Pakistan clawed their way into the final with a nerve-jangling victory against Bangladesh, a result that has injected fresh belief and fire into their dressing room.
With Shaheen Shah Afridi rediscovering his rhythm, Haris Rauf’s pace threatening every batsman, and Salman Ali Agha’s leadership sparking renewed confidence, Pakistan suddenly look like a team capable of upsetting the odds.
Speaking at his pre-final press conference, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha admitted the tension was palpable.
“When it comes to a title-decider, pressure is on both sides. You cannot say which team is better or has more chances. The team committing fewer mistakes will carry the day,” he said, urging his players to seize the moment. Salman emphasised that Pakistan have been saving their best for the ultimate clash.
“Now when we are this close to the title, we will put every ounce of effort into every department. Our batsmen have not shown their full potential yet, but this is the right time to regroup and rise to the occasion,” he added.
On the sensitive issue of Suryakumar Yadav’s conduct, Salman did not hold back.
“I have played cricket all my life. Even our elders say they have never seen captains refusing to shake hands. No matter how heated the contest, Pakistani and Indian captains always set an example in the past. This is against the spirit of the game.”
The Pakistan captain also dismissed the latest Indian media-driven controversy regarding the no-show for the traditional trophy photoshoot.
“That is up to them. We are here to play cricket and focus on the final. Whether they come or not, it changes nothing for us,” he asserted.
Statistically, Pakistan go in as underdogs. They have lost 12 of their 15 T20I encounters against India, a record that does not reflect the immense talent at their disposal. A victory would not only hand them the Asia Cup title but also serve as a symbolic redemption for years of heartbreak.
India, meanwhile, are facing fitness concerns. Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya both limped off during the clash against Bangladesh, and though the team management has remained tight-lipped, their availability for the final remains doubtful. Without two of their key all-rounders, India’s balance could be disrupted at a crucial juncture.
Off the field, anticipation is at fever pitch. Organisers expect a near-capacity crowd for the final, the first of its kind in Dubai since the tournament began.
Tickets have been selling at a good speed, with fans from both nations flying in to witness what is being billed as one of the most significant Indo-Pak contests since the 2024 World Cup clash in New York.
Former players have also added fuel to the build-up. Legendary pacer Wasim Akram predicted a nail-biter:
“India may have the stronger record, but finals are about nerves. Pakistan’s bowling attack can dismantle any side on their day. If the batsmen hold their ground, I see them lifting the trophy.”
As the countdown to the 40 overs of destiny begins, the cricketing world is bracing for a contest where skill will meet nerves, and passion will meet history. One thing is certain on Sunday night, Dubai will not just host a cricket match; it will witness a spectacle for the ages.
Like Playing XIs:
Pakistan (likely): Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (Capt), Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
India(likely): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (Capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Ed Sheeran is opening up about his earlier quest for abs.
Sheeran’s major weight loss became a topic during his recent appearance on SiriusXM’s Small Stage series where host Andy Cohen pointed out how “shredded” Sheeran looked.
“I’d put on a load of weight last year, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna hit the gym heavy, try and lose a stone,’” Sheeran explained. “As I was doing that, I thought, ‘Let’s see how far I can take this.’”
One goal stood out, Sheeran confessed, “I’ve never actually had a six pack in my life, and I wanted to see if I could do it.”
Sheeran admitted it hasn’t been easy to stay on track. “I keep messing up — I’ll be out somewhere, have a couple beers, and it just, you know…,” he laughed. “But I’d say it’s going all right. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Sheeran, who shares daughters Lyra, 5, and Jupiter, 3, with wife Cherry Seaborn, revealed in 2019 that he’d dropped 50 pounds after quitting smoking and taking up running.
The dad of two also admits he still isn’t fond of gyms and looks for other ways to stay active.
DUBAI: Pakistani fans turned out in full force at the ICC Academy on Saturday to greet their team ahead of the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final against India.
The atmosphere was electric, with supporters chanting patriotic slogans such as “Dil Dil Pakistan” and “Jeeway Jeeway Pakistan.”
The spotlight was firmly on opener Sahibzada Farhan and fast bowler Haris Rauf, whose arrival drew loud cheers and heartfelt admiration from the crowd.
Fans said both players had “stolen their hearts,” while the duo responded warmly, shaking hands and engaging with supporters before heading into training.
Located just 1.2 kilometres from the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the ICC Academy echoed with chants of “O Shahzada…!” and “Farhan Bhai, once again…!” Meanwhile, Pashtun fans extended their best wishes to Fakhar Zaman in Pashto, saying “Best of luck.”
With the high-stakes final just a day away, excitement among Pakistani fans in Dubai has reached fever pitch, as they eagerly await their favourite stars taking the field in Sunday’s historic showdown.
The Green Shirts set up a final against India after edging past Bangladesh by 11 runs in a Super Fours encounter on September 25. The final will be the first time the arch-rivals will face each other in the tournament’s history.
The 2016 champions have beaten every opposition on their path before swaggering into the final of the eight-team tournament.
Pakistan were defeated twice, first in the group stage and then in Super Fours, by an India team containing the world’s top-ranked batter and bowler in the T20 format in opener Abhishek Sharma and spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
The two sides will lock horns in the ultimate game as tensions remain heightened due to Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s controversial actions during their group match on September 14.
Pundits called his decision to skip a customary handshake at the toss and political statements in the post-match interview “unprecedented” and “detrimental to the spirit of the game.”
Following a Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) complaint, the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally reprimanded Yadav over his political remarks, advising him to refrain from such actions in the future.
Despite the charged environment, Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed his excitement for the final against India. “The amount of pressure on both teams will be the same. We will try to give our best and win the final,” he said.
At 60, Emma Thompson starred in Dead of Winter, an action movie; however, in her view, it was a “bad idea.”
In a chat with UPI, she says, “It was a very bad idea to start it at the age of 66. That’s just stupid, but there you go.”
The British star explains why she thinks in that way. “Reckless in one’s third age, as it were. And since I’m in the youth of old age, what do you do when you’re young?”
She continues, “You kind of take risks. So, I thought, ‘Well, I might as well take risks in this bit as well and see what happens.’ And what happens is you get hurt regularly.”
Moreover, the actress opens up about the stunt team on the set. “We had a wonderful stunt team who taught us all that and we had to do those fight sequences over and over and over again.”
“But you go: ‘Well, yes, this makes sense. What else would you do? Your body would react like that,'” she adds.
Emma also weighs in on the nature of her stunts, clarifying, “The fight sequences aren’t like in The Bourne Ultimatum. She doesn’t suddenly turn out to be a judo expert.”
“She just survives by pushing, by kicking by doing whatever she can do to prevent this insane woman from killing her and the girl,” she notes.
Dead of Winter is out in theatres.
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