Asia Cup: Pakistan completes its team for the match against India

The playing lineup for Pakistan’s high-stakes Asia Cup match versus India has been finalized, and sources have confirmed that the national team will stick with the winning lineup from the first game.

Following a team meeting, the playing XI was decided.
Following a crucial meeting between captain Salman Ali Agha and the Pakistani team management, it was decided to continue with the present team that faced Oman. The captain and head coach Mike Hesson decided that no adjustments were necessary for today’s match after examining the pitch conditions.

Also Read: Yousuf says Shaheen and Fakhar should be rested for the India encounter.

Abrar Ahmed is discussed but Shaheen Afridi remains.
Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s rest was discussed during previous talks. Nonetheless, Captain Salman Ali Agha made sure Shaheen Afridi was included by expressing complete faith in him.

Although replacing Abrar Ahmed with Haris Rauf was also discussed, the squad has decided to keep the spinner for the time being. The playing XI could yet be changed if weather or pitch conditions necessitate a last-minute change, according to the sources.

Advice from the head coach to the batters
For the batting lineup, head coach Mike Hesson stressed the value of patience and poise. In the crucial match, he specifically counseled Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub to play to their strengths and resist giving in to pressure.

Pakistan is prepared for a crucial match.
Pakistan is feeling more confident going into today’s Asia Cup match against India in Dubai now that the playing XI has been decided. While management has asked players to be calm and concentrate in what should be an exciting match, keeping the winning squad shows faith in the team’s balance.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), despite being the designated host of the Asia Cup 2025, is allegedly organizing a “invisible boycott” of Sunday’s high-stakes match between India and Pakistan. The majority of senior BCCI officials are reportedly not going to the Group A match in Dubai, which is causing further controversy, according to Indian media reports.

Despite hosting, there is no BCCI presence in the UAE.
No BCCI representative has arrived in Dubai four days into the competition. Indian representation was conspicuously lacking when Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi met with team captains and unveiled the trophy.

Only one BCCI delegate may attend the game, according to Indian publication Dainik Jagran, and it is unlikely that senior officials like Joint Secretary Rohan Desai, Treasurer Prabhtej Bhatia, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia will be there.