The India-Pakistan rivalry has once again sent cricket fans into a frenzy. Ahead of the blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 showdown at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, organisers have confirmed that 90% of tickets have already been sold.
With general enclosures almost entirely booked, only a handful of premium seats remain up for grabs. The ticket rush has been so intense that organisers were forced to reopen a fresh online sales window on Thursday evening to accommodate the overwhelming demand.
Ticket Prices Soaring
The minimum ticket price currently stands at AED 750 (around PKR 57,000), while premium hospitality packages are going for as high as AED 3,500 (approximately PKR 270,000). Fans continue to queue outside the stadium’s counters, with long lines forming throughout the day.
“It’s not just a cricket match; it’s an event, an emotion,” said one Dubai-based Pakistani fan while waiting outside the box office. “I just want to be there when Shaheen Afridi runs in to bowl to Shubman Gill.”
On-Field Stakes Rising
On the pitch, India enter the contest brimming with confidence after a ruthless nine-wicket victory against hosts UAE. The Men in Blue skittled the opposition for just 57 runs and chased down the target in a mere 4.3 overs — a statement of intent under captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Pakistan, meanwhile, begin their campaign on Friday against debutants Oman. Salman Ali Agha’s side comes in with momentum, having clinched a T20 tri-series in the UAE last month.
The rivalry has an added layer this time — it’s the first meeting between the two nations since February’s Champions Trophy encounter in Dubai, which India won by six wickets. Historically, India dominate the head-to-head in T20Is with a 10–3 lead over Pakistan.
Squads at a Glance
Pakistan Squad: Salman Agha (capt), Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, Hasan Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem
India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
The Bigger Picture
Group A features India, Pakistan, Oman, and UAE. Group B includes Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. The top two sides from each group advance to the Super Four, with the grand final scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.
For now, though, all eyes are fixed on Sunday. With the stadium expected to be packed to capacity and millions more watching from home, the stage is set for another epic chapter in cricket’s fiercest rivalry.
