Asia Cup 2025 Squad Score Update....

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Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 9th Match, Group B
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Match starts at Sep 16, 14:00 GMT

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Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates, 10th Match, Group A
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Match starts at Sep 17, 14:00 GMT

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Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 11th Match, Group B
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Match starts at Sep 18, 14:00 GMT

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India vs Oman, 12th Match, Group A
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Match starts at Sep 19, 14:00 GMT

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AFG 188/6 (20)HK 94/9 (20)Afghanistan won by 94 runsPLAYER OF THE MATCH
Azmatullah Omarzai

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India vs United Arab Emirates, 2nd Match, Group A - Live


It feels a touch ironic that India, the designated hosts of the Asia Cup 2025, should be "hosting" UAE in Dubai. But given the cloud of uncertainty that lingered over the tournament in the months leading up, the idea of having not one but two kinds of hosts - and of the event happening at all - already feels like a small victory.

This is only the second time India and UAE will meet in T20Is. The first was back in the 2016 Asia Cup, when the UAE crawled to 81/9, a total that India mopped up inside 10.1 overs. The contest was so lopsided that Rohit Sharma walked away with Player of the Match for a 28-ball 39.

Nine years on, the gap has narrowed but not nearly enough. UAE have moved forward, helped in no small measure by the ILT20 and the exposure it has offered their players, but India, in contrast, have surged. The batting has shed its inhibitions, freed first by Rohit Sharma's freedom template and then supercharged by the IPL's Impact Player rule. What was once a culture of caution is now anything but.

The results since the T20 World Cup win have underlined that shift, even with Rohit no longer being a part of the T20I setup. India have won 17 of their 20 T20Is in this fresh World Cup cycle, including all five bilateral series they have played, three of them away. And against UAE, they arrive looking every bit the favourites.

If there is any solace for the underdogs, it lies in the fact that India haven't played a T20I in over seven months, and that the venues in UAE have not always been kind to them. The memory of a 10-wicket hammering by Pakistan in 2021, India's only defeat to their neighbours in an ICC tournament, still lingers. A year later, defeats to Pakistan and Sri Lanka denied them a place in the Asia Cup final.

That is not to suggest this is an even contest on paper. India's resources, both human and financial, tower over anything UAE can marshal but for a side playing at home, at venues where their cricketers have rubbed shoulders with the world's best through the ILT20, there will be a quiet confidence of at least making India sweat. Stranger things have happened in cricket, no less in Dubai.

When: September 10 at 6:30 PM Local | 8 PM IST

Where: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai

What to expect: Some grass on the pitch. Unlike the Champions Trophy earlier this year, when India turned up with as many as four spinners on worn-out surfaces, this is the start of the cricket season in the country and the pacers can expect to have more of a say. The forecast, though, is far less kind, with "excessive heat" and a high of 42 degrees expected. The temperature at match time is still set to be around 36, which should test the players as well as the spectators.

Team watch

India: The team management still has a few calls to make, but the nets have offered clues. Shivam Dube appears the frontrunner for an allrounder's slot, the hint of grass on the pitch working in his favour. Behind the stumps, Jitesh Sharma seems set to take the gloves, which in turn squeezes Sanju Samson out, with Abhishek Sharma and the returning vice-captain Shubman Gill likely to open. Axar Patel should be the No.8, which means the final piece is the spin puzzle, a toss-up between Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.

Injuries/Unavailability: No news of any injuries in India's 15-man squad.

Tactics & Match-ups: Can Suryakumar Yadav rediscover his golden touch? While he was among the runs in IPL, his returns for India have been more modest since the start of 2024: 457 runs in 22 innings, an average of barely 22 and a SR nearly 20 points below his IPL numbers.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

UAE: Muhammad Waseem at the top and Asif Khan in the middle order are power houses with the bat and a lot will depend on them delivering the goods once again.

Injuries/Unavailability: Everyone is reported to be fit and available.

Tactics & Match-ups: Skipper Muhammad Wasim is UAE's leading run-getter in T20Is, recording three of the four hundreds for his country in the format. He was also Player of the Series in UAE's recent 2-1 win over Bangladesh, and will be a key wicket India would target.

Probable XI: Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

Did you know?

- India have won six of their 10 T20Is in UAE. Those wins have come against Pakistan, Afghanistan (2), Hong Kong, Namibia and Scotland.

- Waseem is currently only behind Rohit Sharma's tally in the most number of sixes hit in T20Is.

- Kuldeep Yadav has not featured in a T20I post the 2024 World Cup.

What they said

We have been doing that preparation from the last couple of months to play such a great event. I am very confident that we are ready to accept this challenge: Muhammad Waseem, UAE captain

We are playing T20 as a team after a long time. But we were here three-four days back, had some good time together as a team, and we are really looking forward to this tournament: Suryakumar Yadav, India captain
Squads:

India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh

United Arab Emirates Squad: Muhammad Waseem(c), Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra(w), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Matiullah Khan, Ethan DSouza, Simranjeet Singh

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India vs United Arab Emirates, 2nd Match

UAE 57 (13.1)IND 60/1 (4.3)India won by 9 wktsPLAYER OF THE MATCH
Kuldeep Yadav

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Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, 3rd Match,

Squads:
Bangladesh Squad: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das(w/c), Towhid Hridoy, Saif Hassan, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nurul Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib


Hong Kong Squad: Zeeshan Ali(w), Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Kalhan Challu, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza(c), Aizaz Khan, Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Shahid Wasif, Nasrulla Rana, Mohammad Ghazanfar, Mohammad Waheed, Martin Coetzee, Ali Hassan

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India vs Pakistan, 6th Match, Group A - Live Cricket

The first request was not a question at all.

"Ryan, can you come closer to the mic please?"

Ryan ten Doeschate leaned in, shifting slightly under the glare of a press room fuller and noisier than usual. The assistant coach of India's cricket team, a former allrounder from the Netherlands better known for his cricket than for grand pronouncements, must have known this press conference would not be about combinations and tactics.

On the eve of India's Asia Cup clash with Pakistan, he was confronted with questions that swirled far beyond the boundary rope: Would players be carrying the sentiments of the public back home? Had India prepared differently for Pakistan? How was this match different from other India-Pakistan games?

The answers hardly mattered. What mattered was the reminder that India vs Pakistan is never just about cricket.

Ten doeschate said what he could. Yes, the players felt compassion, but they would put it aside. No, preparations had not been any different. No illusions about being favourites either.

That was enough to capture the essence: this contest pulls everyone in. Players, coaches, administrators, governments, and in this case, even a city like Dubai at the peak of its summer. Whether the cricket in the middle can match that intensity, though, is not a guarantee.

India are a far stronger side at the moment: across formats, across conditions. Especially in T20Is, where they have finally committed to batting freely and going hard at any cost. Pakistan, under Mike Hesson, are trying to head in that direction, but the gulf could still show. That said, two of Pakistan's three wins against India in T20Is have come in Dubai.

Pakistan arrive after winning a tri-series, though they lived dangerously at times, scraping through tight finishes and even needing a hat-trick in the final to save a modest target. Their Asia Cup opener against Oman was more straightforward, but questions linger around their batting. India, meanwhile, warmed up by steamrolling UAE, their top order finding rhythm and their spinners looking in sync. With Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the lineup, they have options to match Mohammad Nawaz, whom Hesson recently called the "best spinner in the world."

For ten Doeschate, a buzzing press room was enough to feel the weight of the rivalry. For the players, that weight will arrive in full under the floodlights: the noise, the pressure and the knowledge that every delivery in an India-Pakistan game starts well before it leaves the bowler's hand.

When: Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM local time / 8:00 PM IST

Where: Dubai International Stadium

What to expect: One of the center pitches on the square is being readied for this match. The pitch, as Shivam Dube reckoned after the UAE match, could again be on the slower side, with spinners expected to have more say as the tournament wears on. It's supposed to be a kinder day heat wise, with high temperatures of 39 degrees expected. Dew could still be a factor later in the night, so expect the captain winning the toss to chase.

Team news

India: Ryan ten Doeschate reckoned that India didn't gain "too much information" from their first Asia Cup outing but seemed to suggest that the combinations are likely to stick. That could mean Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube in the middle-order once nire, no Arshdeep Singh, and more game time together for Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy.

Injuries/unavailability: Shubman Gill was hit in the nets during the optional session on match eve but the Indian vice-captain resumed his batting after a brief timeout and looked alright.

Tactics & matchups: Sanju Samson in the middle order hasn't quite worked before. In T20Is since 2021, Samson has averaged 24 and struck at 139 when batting No.4 or below. His corresponding numbers while batting in the top-three are roughly 37 and 148 respectively.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy

Pakistan: Salman Agha's side is also likely to go in unchanged after their convincing victory in the opening match.

Injuries/unavailability: The entire squad is available to pick from.

Tactics & matchups: Mohammad Nawaz, who was the Player of the Series in each of Pakistan's last two T20I series wins, will be key with the ball. He has averaged under 15 and conceded at under seven an over in each of the four series he's featured in, in 2025.

Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris(w), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed

Did you know?

- Since July 2024, India's batters have the best strike-rate, average, boundary% and balls/six against spin among players of Full Member nations

- Since last year's T20 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi has averaged over 51 with the ball inside the powerplay

- Mohammad Nawaz was Player of the Series in each of Pakistan's last two T20I series wins

What they said:

"We're aware of people's feelings, at the same time we've got to go out, and the guys get a chance to play for their country, and they'll be as professional and focused as they can be given the circumstance." - Ryan ten Doeschate

"We are not just looking forward to the Pakistan-India match, but we are looking forward to winning the tournament." - Saim Ayub

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Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates, 10th Match, Group A

It's supposed to be a virtual knockout between UAE and Pakistan on Wednesday for a berth in Super 4s in Asia Cup 2025. It will still be, provided Pakistan take the field.

India's stance on skipping the customary toss and post-match handshakes with Pakistan - conveyed across by match referee Andy Pycroft - has had a cascading effect on entire Group A. Pakistan protested by not showing up for the post-match presentation after the loss to India, their coach called it a "flow and effect" of India's "unsporting behaviour", and the PCB then threatened to not take the field next if Pycroft is the match official for their future games - which he is on Wednesday.

ICC, on its part, has officially struck down PCB's demand, putting the ball in Pakistan's court. Will they stand their ground? Can they afford to? Because, while all of this was unfolding in boardrooms, UAE convincingly beat Oman in Abu Dhabi last night to knock them out of the competition and also send India through to the next round from Group A - meaning only either one of them or Pakistan can now progress. And, a moral dilemma for Pakistan - it's pride at stake either way.

On the field, both Pakistan and UAE humbled Oman and were overwhelmed by India to find themselves in this winners-takes-all contest.

When: Wednesday, September 17 at 6:30 PM Local (8:00 PM IST)

Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

What to expect: More heat and humidity, and wickets to spin.

Head-to-Head: UAE have their task cut out in their bid to make history, because Pakistan have won all three games against them in the format. This includes the one in the 2016 Asia Cup. Pakistan also won both matches against UAE of the recent tri-series.

Teams watch

UAE

Injuries/Unavailability: None reported.

Tactics & Match-ups: Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi could be the one they'll look to go after early. Afridi's PowerPlay numbers have dropped significantly this year. He conceded runs at 10.25 and is yet to pick up a wicket in the first-six overs in this tournament. With UAE openers both among runs, this could be an exciting subplot upfront.

Probable XI: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (c), Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Junaid Siddique

PakistanInjuries/Unavailability: No concerns on that front in Pakistan's camp either.

Tactics & Match-ups: Post 2024 World Cup, only India's spin unit have picked up more wickets than Pakistan's tally of 91 in 29 matches at an average of 18.09. With helpful conditions on offer in Dubai, they're going to be a handful for even the home side. It's going to be a trial by spin for UAE.

Probable XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed

Did you know?

- UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem is only the second player from an Associate nation to get to 3000 T20I runs after Virandeep Singh of Malaysia.

- Haider Ali has taken a wicket off the first ball of his spell in four out of his 15 T20I appearances.

- Afridi's struggles aside, no pace unit has picked more wickets since the conclusion of 2024 T20 World Cup to beat Pakistan's tally of 102 at 23.12.
Squads:
United Arab Emirates Squad: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem(c), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Rahul Chopra(w), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Muhammad Jawadullah, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Aryansh Sharma, Matiullah Khan, Ethan DSouza, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan

Pakistan Squad: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris(w), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Hussain Talat, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman