The big final of the Asia Cup 2025 is almost here, and it will be one for the history books.
India and Pakistan will lock horns in Dubai on Sept. 28, and for the very first time, they will meet in the Asia Cup final.
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But as excitement grows, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik sent a warning to Pakistan team.
He feels the fans have lost faith after back-to-back defeats to India, and now the team needs to treat this as a must win moment.
Shoaib Malik warns Pakistan about mindset before IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 final
Malik revealed that fans, away from cameras, showed little belief. He added that facing India three times in two weeks is unusual in modern cricket, since bilateral series are rare these days.
"When we sit off-camera, the interactions we have, coming back from the hotel, or meeting people, they’ve lost a lot of hope. In my opinion, within two weeks, you’re facing India for the third time. This is very rare. It used to happen in bilateral series, but that doesn’t happen anymore," said Malik.
Still, Malik reminded that this final is a golden chance to bring back the craze that once defined India-Pakistan matches.
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"So, what’s next? This is a big opportunity. And if you look at it, people are really excited to see the final. That craze we used to see? It’s coming back now. Winning this final is really important. Only then will we get back on track. Right now, we’re off track," he added.
Malik’s words show just how much is riding on this final for Pakistan, both on the field and in the eyes of their supporters.
How have India and Pakistan performed against each other so far in Asia Cup 2025?
India have beaten Pakistan twice already in this edition. In the group stage, they chased down the target of 128 with ease and won by seven wickets, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliant 3/18 spell.
In the Super Four clash, Pakistan put up 171 for 5, but India’s young openers stole the show. Abhishek Sharma hammered 74 off 39 balls, while Shubman Gill smashed 47 off 28 balls in a rapid 105-run stand.
Though India lost a few wickets later, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya saw the team home with seven balls left. That win by six wickets gave India full control, and Abhishek was named Player of the Match.
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