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Pakistan vs India: Rivalry that defines Asia Cup | The Express Tribune

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Pakistan vs India: Rivalry that defines Asia Cup | The Express Tribune



KARACHI:

Pakistan and India are set to face each other in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 14. The two teams are also likely to clash again in the Super four stage on September 21.

If both sides qualify for the final, the ultimate showdown would take place on September 28.

Interestingly, Pakistan and India have never faced each other in an Asia Cup final, making this year’s tournament a rare opportunity for fans to witness such a historic encounter. For now, the focus will be on the Super 4 stage, where another high-voltage contest is expected.

This match will also mark the first clash between the two nations since the political dispute in May 2025, which led to the postponement of the domestic leagues in both countries.

Life after Kohli and Rohit

For the first time since 2008, India will play Pakistan without Virat Kohli. Kohli was the heartbeat of this rivalry, producing match-winning knocks time and again. With 492 runs in just 11 T20I encounters against Pakistan, his dominance is unmatched. From his famous 82* at Melbourne in 2022, the 55* at Eden Gardens in the 2016 World Cup, or the 49 in the same year’s Asia Cup, to his 78* in the 2012 World Cup, Kohli consistently broke Pakistan’s hearts. He was named Player of the Match in most of these encounters.

Now, with Kohli and Rohit Sharma both retired after leading India to the 2024 World Cup title, India will surely miss their experience.

Pakistan, meanwhile, will also field a relatively inexperienced side with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sidelined from T20Is after a dip in form since the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan crashed out before the Super 8 stage.

This sets the stage for a new era of rivalry—without the seasoned stars who respected and praised each other, and with fresh faces eager to make their mark.

Key players to watch

For India, Hardik Pandya remains the standout figure. With the ability to win games with both bat and ball, he has been India’s most impactful performer against Pakistan after Kohli.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will rely on Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been in fierce form since his return to the national side. In the batting department, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Fakhar Zaman, and Hasan Nawaz will be crucial, especially in spin-friendly conditions.

Head-to-Head in T20Is

India have dominated Pakistan in T20Is, winning 10 out of 13 matches. Pakistan’s three victories came in 2012, 2021, and 2022—two of them under Babar Azam’s captaincy, including the iconic 10-wicket win at Dubai in the 2021 World Cup.

The rivalry has grown even more intense since 2021, with matches often going down to the wire. Pakistan will still be haunted by narrow defeats in recent years.

In the 2024 World Cup, they lost while chasing just 120 after requiring 47 off 47 balls with eight wickets in hand.

In the previous T20 World Cup, they failed to defend 48 off 18, as Kohli’s unbeaten 82 off 53 snatched the game for India.

In the 2022 Asia Cup, Pakistan couldn’t defend 21 runs off 12 balls against their arch-rivals in the group stage match. However, they bounced back to win the Super Four clash between the two sides by 5 wickets on the second-last ball.

The bigger picture

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry dates back to 1952, shortly after partition. Over time, matches have often mirrored the tense political climate between the two nations, making every contest more than just a game.

Unlike ICC tournaments, the Asia Cup adds a regional flavor to this rivalry. Both teams aim to assert dominance in Asia, and the tournament has given fans unforgettable moments: Kohli’s 183 in Mirpur (2012) and Shahid Afridi’s last-over sixes against India in 2014 being two of the most iconic finishes.

Since bilateral series have been suspended for years, Asia Cup and ICC events remain the only platforms for these two cricketing giants to meet. This rarity makes every clash feel like a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

From packed stadiums in Dubai, Melbourne, Colombo, and Dhaka to millions glued to screens across the globe, the passion is unmatched. In the digital age, the rivalry explodes on social media, where memes, chants, and hashtags trend worldwide on match days.

For players, it’s about handling immense pressure. For fans, it’s about national pride. And for the sport itself, it is the ultimate showcase of drama, skill, and passion. The Asia Cup ensures that the India-Pakistan rivalry remains one of cricket’s greatest spectacles—a battle where the team that keeps its nerve will always emerge victorious.



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Virginia’s Anna Moesch wins 1st career NCAA individual title

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Virginia’s Anna Moesch wins 1st career NCAA individual title


ATLANTA — Anna Moesch won the first NCAA individual title of her career in the 200-yard freestyle on Thursday night at the women’s swimming and diving championships to help Virginia add to its team lead.

Moesch’s time of 1:39.23 marked the second fastest performance in the event, just shy of Missy Franklin’s 11-year-old record.

Moesch also helped Virginia claim a third relay title in the competition with a 1:24.11 in the 200 freestyle. It was the fifth straight year Virginia won the event.

Virginia sits in first place with 249 points heading into the third day of the four-day competition. Texas is second with 183 points and Stanford third with 173.

Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske clocked a 48.49 to win the 100 butterfly for her third career national title. Huske edged Virginia’s Claire Curzan after finishing second last season. The top three swimmers finished under 50 seconds, with Huske’s Stanford teammate, Gigi Johnson, coming in fourth.

Bella Sims led wire-to-wire in the 400 IM for Michigan’s first individual NCAA title since Maggie MacNeil in 2021. It was also the first gold in the event by a Wolverine since Mindy Gehrs in 1993.

NC State’s Eneli Jefimova took the 100 breaststroke with the fastest time in program history.

Senior diver Chiara Pellacani defended her one-meter national title for Miami. Pellacani became the first diver to win multiple national titles in a Miami career since Brittany Viola (2008, 2011).



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FIFA clears Israeli settlement clubs but fines IFA over breaches

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FIFA clears Israeli settlement clubs but fines IFA over breaches


FIFA said Thursday that it would take no action on formal complaints by the Palestinian soccer federation in 2024 against its Israeli counterpart, including to suspend membership.

FIFA did, however, fine the Israel Football Association 150,000 Swiss francs ($190,000) on disciplinary charges relating to “discrimination and racist abuse,” plus “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play.”

Palestinian soccer officials have long argued Israel violates FIFA statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in the national league.

“FIFA should take no action given that, in the context of the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes, the final legal status of the West Bank remains an unresolved and highly complex matter under public international law,” the soccer body said.

“FIFA can’t solve geopolitical conflicts,” said Infantino, who presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a specially created peace prize at the World Cup draw in December.

“[B]ut we are committed to using the power of football and the FIFA World Cup to build bridges and promote peace as our thoughts are with those who are suffering as a consequence of the ongoing wars,” he said.

The disciplinary investigation of Israeli soccer also was opened 18 months ago in response to formal complaints by the Palestinian federation.

One third of the fine must be spent by Israeli officials, FIFA ruled, on “implementation of a comprehensive plan to ensure action against discrimination and to prevent repeated incidents.”

“The plan shall be approved by FIFA and shall focus on the following areas: reforms, protocols, monitoring, and educational campaigns in stadiums and on official channels for an entire season,” FIFA judges decided.

The judges said they “cannot remain indifferent to the broader human context in which football operates” and the sport “must remain a platform for peace, dialogue, and mutual respect.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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TCU backs up its tough talk, bounces Buckeyes in 1st round

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TCU backs up its tough talk, bounces Buckeyes in 1st round


GREENVILLE, S.C. — TCU wasn’t short on confidence for Thursday’s NCAA tournament opener against Ohio State, with forward David Punch setting the stage of the matchup by saying he believed the Horned Frogs would beat the Buckeyes “nine out of 10 times.”

That, forward Xavier Edmonds said, added a bit of pressure on the Horned Frogs to back up Punch’s prediction.

“His words were just a little bit misconstrued and a little twisted,” Edmonds said. “Still, we saw it, and we felt like we had to stand on it.”

Given Ohio State’s raucous comeback from a 15-point halftime deficit, it’s hard to say what might happen if these two played nine more times, but on Thursday, Punch and Edmonds delivered. Punch connected on a nifty pass to Edmonds in the paint with four seconds to go for a go-ahead layup, helping TCU advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 66-64 victory.

TCU was dominant from beyond the arc in the first half, but a brutal shooting performance after the break allowed the Buckeyes to claw back into the game, taking a 51-50 lead with just over seven minutes to play.

With Edmonds in foul trouble, Punch put the Frogs on his back late, however, finishing the game with 16 points, 13 boards and a pair of assists, including the go-ahead dish to Edmonds.

Ohio State had one final shot at the win, but Bruce Thornton couldn’t find an open man near the basket and settled for a half-court heave that fell short.

The win ensured Punch’s boast proved accurate, but TCU wasn’t done delivering a message to Ohio State.

“We just felt like them as a Big Ten team, they just haven’t felt or seen a defense like ours,” said Edmonds, who finished with 16 points and eight boards. “Being in the Big 12, and the different level of physicality and intensity, we just wanted to go out there and show them what Big 12 basketball is about.”



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