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The Asia Cup 2025 has always been a troubled soul and it has struggled to cast off this characteristic. Originally meant to be hosted by India, the position was scuppered by recent Indo-Pakistan political tensions.

These led to a situation in which neither’s cricket teams will play in each other’s countries for the time being. India chose to delay its decision to join the tournament until the last minute, causing administrative headaches. Once underway, the infamous “no-handshake” incident in the first India vs Pakistan match was the basis for a further souring of relations. Pakistan’s riposte of clamouring for the removal of the ICC match referee gained them no new friends and may have lost old ones.

There was always a possibility that India and Pakistan could meet three times in this tournament. In the not-too-distant past, frissons of excitement and anticipation would run through all parties involved. The Asia Cup 2025, at least from the outside, seems to have altered, and maybe destroyed, this perception. The teams have met twice, with a third in prospect. In place of excitement, there are likely to be other sentiments. Arab News is exploring these at first hand, through attendance at the final stages of the tournament. 

In an eight-team tournament divided into two groups, there is always a chance of a fancied team falling by the wayside. In the Asia Cup 2025, the Afghanistan team was expected to reach the Super Four stage, but defeats by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh saw it eliminated at the group stage. India, of course, is the dominant team, winning all of its matches and already qualified for the final on Sept. 28.

On the evidence of last night’s match, Bangladesh should not pose too many problems for India. They asked India to bat first. In the first three overs India’s openers appeared to be gauging the pace of the wicket and movement of the ball, scoring 17 runs. They almost lost their prolific batter, Abhishek Sharma, whose edged shot was dropped by the diving wicket keeper. Thereafter, the openers were rampant, reaching 72 at the end of the sixth over. An overambitious shot led to the downfall of Shubman Gill, but Sharma carried on, looking invincible. It took an outstanding piece of fielding and a sharp throw to the non-strikers end to run him out for 72. He is the leading run scorer in the tournament with 248, 88 ahead of second placed Saif Hassan of Bangladesh. 

India then stumbled to 129 for five and there was a hint of an upset on the cards. This prospect was dimmed by Hardik Pandya’s sublime innings.  After a circumspect start he unveiled a series of shots whose elegance would have graced a Test match. His 38 lifted India to a total of 168 for six, an achievable target. If India felt under any pressure, Bangladesh’s openers found it difficult to lay their bat on the ball, especially against Jasprit Bumrah, whose bowling is compelling viewing. He induced ten false shots out of his first twelve legal deliveries, quickly accounting for Tanzid Hasan.

Saif Hassan and Emon took the score to 44 for one wicket after six overs. India then began to tighten the screws and wickets fell regularly caused by some injudicious decisions by batters, as Bangladesh’s innings crumbled around Saif Hassan, who was ninth out, scoring 69. At one point it seemed that Bangladesh might not use up all 20 overs. Eventually, they scraped to 127 all out with three balls to spare, India victorious by 41 runs to further underline their status as the outstanding team in this tournament. No other team matches their consistency and all-round depth. After the match, it was notable to see the teams shaking hands amicably.      

Pakistan put itself in within one match of the final by beating Sri Lanka last Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Prior to the match, Sri Lanka had won all five of the most recent T20Is against Pakistan. This goes back to October 2019, since when there have been changes to personnel in both teams. Opening batters, Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka and Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan were the tournament's second and third placed run scorers in the tournament.

Pakistan asked Sri Lanka to bat, Nissanka was dismissed cheaply and they slumped to 58 for five after 7.3 overs. Kamindu Mendis fought back with 50 off 44 deliveries to help his team to reach 133 for eight. On a good batting track, this modest target was made to look much better when Pakistan lost five wickets in moving from 45 to 80 between the middle of the fifth over and the beginning of the 11th. A precarious position was rescued by the cool heads of Mohammad Nawaz and Hussain Talat, who compiled a 58-run partnership to steer their side home with 12 deliveries to spare.

There is every chance that the decisive match between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be close. Against Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s bowling attack looked in good rhythm, especially Shaheen Afridi, who claimed three wickets, including both openers. The batting has been inconsistent, with the middle order saving the day against Sri Lanka. In Bangladesh’s case, with the exception of Saif Hassan, its batting was brittle against India. In head-to-head T20Is, Pakistan have won 20 out of 25 matches. This will probably make them favorites.

India and Pakistan have never met in the final of the Asia Cup, which has been in existence for 41 years. In the press area, the prospect does not seem to be openly talked about. However, there is palpable tension in the air. The Indian captain has questioned whether cricket between India and Pakistan can be considered a true rivalry, given India’s supremacy.

This hardly reduces those bubbling tensions, which were inflamed by the extraordinary action of Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan who, on bringing up his half-century with a six, celebrated by using his bat as a gun and firing shots. The soul of Asia Cup 2025 has been troubled enough. We await to see how much more inner turmoil, anxiety and emotional pain it will be subject to and, indeed, whether it can cope. The sight of open animosity at a final is not a welcome prospect.