Dubai: As the 2025 Asia Cup culminates in a historic final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai, the focus remains firmly on the on-field action, despite the recent ‘handshake saga’ controversy. This summit clash marks the first time in the tournament’s 41-year history that these two giants of Asian cricket will compete for the continental title.
The “weather gods” have been kind throughout the tournament, with not a single match affected by rain—a rarity that has held up through the final day. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, enter the match as clear favorites, having already defeated Pakistan twice in the ongoing competition: once in the group stage by seven wickets, and again in the Super Four stage by six wickets.
The Washout Clause: Reserve Day in Effect
Despite the clear skies in Dubai, the question of a washout remains an important discussion point among fans and officials. What will happen if the weather takes a turn, or if any other unforeseen circumstance prevents a result on the scheduled day?
According to the rules set by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), a reserve day has been scheduled for Monday, September 29. This greatly reduces the probability of the title being shared.
However, the ACC rules also state that the trophy will be shared between both teams if the match ends in a No-Result (NR) due to weather or any other reason, even after play on the reserve day. The Asia Cup has never seen two teams share a title in its history, making the Reserve Day provision a crucial safety net for a definitive conclusion.
AccuWeather predicts Sunday’s temperature in Dubai to reach 38 degrees Celsius, with a sweltering ‘Real Feel’ of 42 degrees, suggesting that heat, rather than rain, is the more likely factor for player discomfort.
Key Battles: Abhishek vs. Shaheen
The final is set to feature a thrilling individual battle between India’s in-form opener, Abhishek Sharma, and Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi.
Abhishek Sharma has been the standout batsman of the tournament, sitting atop the scoring charts with a monumental 309 runs in six matches at a blistering strike-rate of 204.64. The opener has registered three half-centuries, with a top score of 75.
On the bowling front, Shaheen Afridi is Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker with nine wickets and stands third in the overall tournament standings. The outcome of the match could very well hinge on which of these two stars manages to dominate the other.
India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, highlighted the excitement surrounding this contest: “Shaheen is obviously an aggressive bowler that will try and knock you over. And Abhishek is not going to hold back. I think, so far, every time these two went head-to-head, we all as cricket supporters and fans are on the edge of our seats and that’s great for the game. Yeah, so let’s look forward to that on Sunday and enjoy the battle.”