Pakistan captain Salman Agha has confirmed that his team is fully prepared to face India in their highly anticipated Asia Cup Super Fours clash on Sunday. The arch-rivals last met in the group stage, where tensions rose after the Indian side refused to shake hands with Pakistani players.

Pakistan Advance to Super Fours After UAE Win

On Wednesday, Pakistan secured their spot in the Asia Cup Super Fours with a 41-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Alongside India, they will now face two Group B teams in a round-robin format to decide the finalists.

Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2013, meaning the two sides only meet during ICC events or multi-nation tournaments.

Salman Agha: “We Are Ready for Any Challenge”

After the win, skipper Salman Agha praised his team’s efforts but admitted they must improve their batting:

“We are ready, we are ready for any challenge. If we play good cricket like we have in recent months, we can compete with any side.”

He acknowledged concerns with the batting order:

• Fakhar Zaman scored a half-century (50), but Pakistan’s top order struggled against UAE’s modest attack.

• Saim Ayub fell for his third straight duck, raising worries over Pakistan’s opening pair.

• Salman stressed: “We got the job done, but the middle order needs to perform better. That’s an area we must improve.”

India vs Pakistan: Politics Overshadow Cricket

Last week, India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their group-stage clash – the first meeting between the rivals since a four-day military conflict in May.

• The match was overshadowed by controversy as there was no handshake between captains during the toss or after the game.

• India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the armed forces, a gesture widely criticized as politicization of cricket.

• The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accused match referee Andy Pycroft of instructing Pakistan’s captain not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart.

The PCB demanded Pycroft’s immediate removal for violating the ICC’s code of conduct and even considered withdrawing from the tournament. However, tensions eased after Pycroft apologized to Pakistan’s management and captain before their UAE match.

Possible Third Clash in Asia Cup Final

If both teams continue their strong performances, Pakistan and India could meet for a third time in the Asia Cup 2025 Final scheduled for September 28.

Cricket fans across the world are eagerly waiting for this high-stakes showdown, which could become one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

Key Takeaways

• Pakistan beat UAE to qualify for the Super Fours.

• Captain Salman Agha says the team is ready for India.

• Pakistan’s batting issues remain a concern.

• India-Pakistan rivalry continues to be marred by political tensions.

• Both sides could clash again in the Asia Cup Final on September 28.