Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan hit the nets to prepare for India showdown

Dubai: Pakistan’s men’s cricket team hit the ground running after arriving in Dubai on Wednesday, with intentions clear from the start. The team bus rolled into the ICC Academy at 7.25pm for a 7.30pm session, and within minutes the players were split into focused groups to begin their Asia Cup build-up.

Under cooler evening skies, the session was sharp and purposeful. One group worked on fielding and catching, while senior players moved to the nets under Australian bowling coach Ashley Noffke. Haris Rauf bowled with trademark aggression, testing batters with pace and bounce, while Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered precision bowling, repeatedly hitting the top of off stump and producing yorkers that uprooted middle stumps, even without going at full speed.

The squad will have another week to train before starting the Tri-Nation series against hosts UAE and Afghanistan on August 29 in Sharjah. The Asia Cup begins on September 9, with Pakistan opening their Group A campaign against Oman on September 12 in Dubai, before facing arch-rivals India in a high-profile clash two days later.

India cleared for Asia Cup

India’s participation had been under scrutiny following the Pahalgam terror attack and the resulting political tension. On Thursday, the Union Sports Ministry confirmed that while bilateral cricket with Pakistan remains suspended, India has no objection to facing Pakistan in multilateral tournaments, including the Asia Cup.

“India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy. While bilateral events are off-limits, Indian athletes and teams are free to compete in multilateral tournaments featuring Pakistan, whether staged abroad or in India,” the ministry said.

The announcement was accompanied by India’s 15-member squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, blending experience with emerging talent as they aim to defend the title. A simplified visa regime for athletes, team officials, and federation representatives was also introduced, including multi-entry visas of up to five years.

Pakistan’s T20 squad, led by Salman Agha, also welcomes the return of fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza, along with opener Fakhar Zaman, who missed the recent ODI series against West Indies due to injury. The team arrives after a challenging few months, including a 2-1 ODI series defeat to West Indies in the United States.

Countdown to Dubai clash

With India cleared to participate, Pakistan’s squad preparing in UAE, the stage is set for the September 14 fixture — a match that continues to transcend cricket, attracting global attention for its high-octane sporting and political backdrop.

Pakistan squad (T20):

Salman Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim.