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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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Aroldis Chapman says he’d ‘retire on the spot’ if ever traded back to Yankees

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Aroldis Chapman says he’d ‘retire on the spot’ if ever traded back to Yankees


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Aroldis Chapman was a major piece of the New York Yankees’ resurgence in the late-2010s as he was the man the team called out of the bullpen to close out games.

But Chapman’s failure to close out the Houston Astros in the 2019 American League Championship Series will forever be seared into the minds of Yankees fans. It would be unlikely that they would want him back in the bullpen regardless of his comments on Monday.

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New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) throws against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning in game four of the 2017 ALCS playoff baseball series at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 17, 2017. (Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)

The two-time World Series champion told the “Swing Completo” podcast in Spanish that he would “retire on the spot” if he was traded back to the Yankees.

“No way. Not even dead,” he said, via the New York Post. “If I were told that I was being traded to New York, I’d pack my things and go home. I’ll retire right on the spot if that happens. I’m not crazy. Never again.”

2025 WORLD SERIES MVP ODDS: OHTANI FAVORED AFTER GAME 2; YAMAMOTO SURGES

Aroldis Chapman pitches vs Yankees

Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) relief pitcher throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 30, 2025. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Chapman explained he felt “a lot of disrespect” while playing in the Bronx. He said he got along with the players and manager Aaron Boone but had an issue with how the “bosses” conducted business.

“I got along well with all the players, never had a problem with anybody, even the manager. We’re friends and we talk and everything,” he said. “The bosses are the ones who make those decisions.”

He pitched for the Yankees from 2017 to 2022.

Aroldis Chapman pitches at Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) pitches against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Fenway Park on Sept 14, 2025. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)

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Chapman won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023. He pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 2025. He had a 1.17 ERA with 85 strikeouts.

He will turn 38 before the 2026 season begins.





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Ex-ICC match referee exposes India’s role in manipulating cricket rulings

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Ex-ICC match referee exposes India’s role in manipulating cricket rulings


Match referee Chris Broad (centre) poses for a picture with India captain Virat Kohli (right) and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on June 19, 2021. — ICC 

Former ICC match referee Chris Broad has revealed that he was once instructed to favour India by showing leniency on a slow-over rate penalty.

Broad, who oversaw 622 men’s international matches across formats, disclosed in an interview with The Telegraph, describing it as a startling example of India’s influence in cricket.

The former England cricketer did not specifically mention the match, in which India were around four overs behind schedule and were on the verge of being penalised, but he received a phone call and was instructed to show leniency with the team.

“India were three, four overs down at the end of a game, so it constituted a fine. I got a phone call saying, ‘Be lenient, find some time because it’s India’. And it’s like, right, OK. So we had to find some time, bring it down below the threshold,” Broad stated.

“The very next game, the same thing happened. He [Sourav Ganguly] didn’t listen to any of the hurry-ups and so I phoned and said, ‘What do you want me to do now?’ and I was told ‘just do him’,” he added.

Broad, who served as the ICC match referee until February 2024, further shared that he was ‘very happy to carry on’, but his contract was not renewed by the apex body.

“I was very happy to carry on,” Broad remarked. “But for 20 years, I dodged a lot of bullets, both politically and physically. I look back and I think, ‘you know, 20 years is quite a long time to be doing that job’,” Broad continued.

The former referee then went on to claim that the management became ‘a lot weaker’ against India’s financial influence after the departure of former South Africa cricketer Vince van der Bijl as the ICC umpires manager.

“I think we were supported by Vince van der Bijl (ICC umpires manager) while he was in position because he came from a cricketing background, but once he left, the management became a lot weaker. India got all the money and has now taken over the ICC, so in many ways,” he claimed.

“I’m pleased I’m not around because it’s a much more political position now than it ever has been,” Broad concluded.





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Transfer rumors, news: Juventus eye move for Chelsea’s Gusto

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Transfer rumors, news: Juventus eye move for Chelsea’s Gusto


Juventus are looking at a move for Chelsea defender Malo Gusto, while Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has been linked with Manchester United, but the club’s minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has shot that down. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Juventus are keeping tabs on Chelsea right back Malo Gusto, according to Calciomercato. The France international is viewed by Juve as a potential alternative to Atlético Madrid‘s Nahuel Molina, whom the club came close to signing back in the summer. With captain Reece James returning to form and fitness in the right back position, the Blues may sanction Gusto’s exit if a suitable offer arrives.

– Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has blocked a shock move for Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, reports The Daily Mirror. Lewandowski, 37, is expected to become a free agent next summer, and won’t be short of potential suitors if he does. However, United won’t be among them as things stand, with Ratcliffe keen to “not repeat the mistakes of the past” by signing a player toward the end of his career. The Poland international has scored 73 league goals for Barcelona since joining in 2022 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

– Barcelona and Arsenal are set to battle to sign 15-year-old Montpellier striker Lacine Megnan-Pave, according to L’Equipe. Megnan-Pave has caught the eye with his performances for Montpellier’s U19 side, where he has scored twice in five games, and the 6-foot left-footed forward could have a choice to make in the near future. Though Barcelona and their La Masia academy are tipped to get the deal over the line first.

– Bayern Munich are among the clubs considering a bid to sign FC Cologne winger Said El Mala in January, Sky Germany has revealed. El Mala, 19, is under contract at the club until June 2030, so his transfer is valued above the €40 million mark following an electric start to the Bundesliga season. As things stand, Cologne are not willing to entertain January offers that would see the 19-year-old return to the club on loan for the remainder of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur may look to replace striker Dominic Solanke in the January transfer window, Football Insider reports. The England international hasn’t impressed new Spurs boss Thomas Frank, although his ongoing fitness issues have not helped matters. The club hope to bring in a new forward when the transfer window reopens, with former Brentford star Ivan Toney among those linked in recent weeks.

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OTHER RUMORS

– Santos are set to evaluate the technical conditions of extending Neymar‘s contract at the club, according to club president Marcelo Teixeira. (O Globo)

Bukayo Saka is edging closer to agreeing to a record-breaking new contract with Arsenal. He is set to become the club’s highest-ever paid player, with a salary of over £300,000. (Football Insider)

– Barcelona are yet to decide whether they’ll sanction a loan move for winger Roony Bardghji. Stuttgart were previously in advanced talks to sign the 19-year-old and could be among his suitors if Barca place him on the loan list. (Sky Germany)

– Tottenham are tracking FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, 21, but Arsenal, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest are also interested. (Caught Offside)

– Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, 33, looks set to leave for free at the end of the season as the club won’t extend his contract. (Football Insider)

– Roma are interested if Manchester United are willing to sanction a loan deal for forward Joshua Zirkzee. (TBR)

– Tottenham and Manchester United both made £50 million bids to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in the summer, which were rejected. (Telegraph)

– Out-of-favor Brentford midfielder Fábio Carvalho could return to the Bundesliga in January, and a loan move is being explored. (Sky Germany)

– West Ham United are keen on signing Barcelona wonderkid Pedro “Dro” Fernández in January. (Alan Nixon)

– Aston Villa want to sign winger Morgan Rogers, 23, to a new contract quickly. (Football Insider)

– A Juventus scout was present at Saturday’s match between Udinese and Lecce to monitor midfielder Arthur Atta. The 22-year-old has impressed so far in Serie A this season, with three goal involvements in eight matches to date. (Nicolo Schira)

– AC Milan are planning on signing a center back and a striker in the winter transfer window. (Nicolo Schira)

– Wolverhampton Wanderers insist manager Vítor Pereira is “not under immediate threat” of being sacked, despite the club’s poor start. (TalkSPORT)

– Peterborough United have held talks with former Swansea City manager Luke Williams over the vacant manager’s post. (Sky Sports News)



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