Cricket – Pakistan, India set for first-ever Asia Cup final clash
Dubai, Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will meet in the Asia Cup final for the first time on Sunday, adding another chapter to one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries. India have dominated Pakistan in the T20 format, winning 12 of the 15 encounters since 2007, including both matches in the current tournament. Analysts have labelled India as…
Dubai, Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will meet in the Asia Cup final for the first time on Sunday, adding another chapter to one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.
India have dominated Pakistan in the T20 format, winning 12 of the 15 encounters since 2007, including both matches in the current tournament. Analysts have labelled India as favourites heading into the Dubai final.
However, history offers Pakistan some encouragement. In multi-nation tournament finals across formats, Pakistan hold a 3–2 edge over India. The two sides first clashed in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket final in Australia, which India won, before Pakistan claimed back-to-back Austral-Asia Cup titles in Sharjah in 1986 and 1994.
India edged Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup final in Johannesburg, while Pakistan recorded a resounding 180-run victory in their most recent final meeting at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval.
Overall, in five multi-nation finals, Pakistan have prevailed three times and India twice. The teams have also met in three tri-series finals, with Pakistan winning two.
Sunday’s clash in Dubai, with tickets already sold out, promises to be a historic occasion in the 41-year history of the Asia Cup.
