The stage is set for a historic Asia Cup final as Pakistan and India prepare to face off in Dubai on September 28, 2025. This marks the first time ever that these two cricket giants will battle for the Asia Cup title in the tournament's 41-year history.

Pakistan secured their place in the final after a tense, hard-fought 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their Super Four match. After winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bowl first and their bowlers initially put Pakistan under pressure, reducing them to 49-5. Taskin Ahmed led the Bangladesh attack, taking 3-28, while Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan each claimed two wickets. A lower-order resurgence, powered by Mohammad Haris (31 off 17), Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 15) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (19 off 13), helped Pakistan reach a total of 135-8.

In response, Bangladesh's batting faltered against Pakistan's pace attack. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf each took three wickets, restricting Bangladesh to 124-9. Shamim Hossain top-scored for Bangladesh with 30. Shaheen Shah Afridi was named player of the match for his all-round performance.

Despite the excitement surrounding the final, tensions have been high between the two teams, with their previous encounters in the tournament marred by controversy. After India's first win, Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the Indian Armed Forces, which led to a dispute between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). There was also an instance where the two teams did not shake hands after their first match.

Amidst these tensions, Pakistan's head coach Mike Hesson has urged his team to remain focused on the cricket. "Look, my message to the players is just focus on cricket and that certainly we will be doing," Hesson said. He acknowledged the passion and high stakes involved but emphasized the importance of playing a good game. Hesson believes his team has "earned the right" to play in the final and is determined to "deliver on the biggest stage". He also praised his players for their resilience and their ability to bounce back from difficult situations, highlighting the contributions of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Agha Salman.

Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, echoed his coach's confidence, stating, "We are really settled. We are a good enough team to beat anyone. We are excited and we will be looking to beat them in the final".

India has dominated the recent encounters, winning both matches against Pakistan in the current tournament. They won the first match by seven wickets and the second by six wickets. However, Hesson believes Pakistan has improved since their first match and is capable of putting India under pressure. "I think the way we played against India in the last match was a huge step up from the first game," Hesson said. "The first game was a bit passive, we allowed India to control the game". He added, "The last match we had that game by the scruff of the neck for long periods and it took an exceptional innings from Abhishek Sharma that took the game away from us".

This will be the sixth time India and Pakistan have met in the final of a multinational tournament involving more than three teams. Some memorable finals between the two sides include the 1985 World Championship of Cricket final, which India won by eight wickets, and the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where Pakistan triumphed by 180 runs.