Asia Cup 2025 Knockout: Pakistan vs Bangladesh Battle for India Final Clash

Pakistan and Bangladesh are set for a high-stakes knockout clash in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s, with a place in the final against India on the line. India secured their spot with a 41-run win over Bangladesh, making the upcoming match on September 25 a must-watch encounter.

Pakistan’s Rollercoaster Campaign
Pakistan’s journey in the tournament has been inconsistent, both on and off the field. While the win against Oman was convincing, losses against India and the UAE exposed cracks in the team. Despite a comeback against Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s top-order batting has struggled, with key contributions from Mohammad Nawaz and Hussain Talat proving crucial.

Bangladesh’s Conviction
Bangladesh have shown grit throughout the Asia Cup, defeating Afghanistan and Sri Lanka to reach the Super 4s. While they lost to India, players like Saif Hassan and Litton Das have performed impressively, and their fielding and bowling in the death overs have been standout features. Their 2-1 series win over Pakistan in July gives them confidence ahead of this knockout.

Key Players and Strategy
Pakistan may reconsider their opening options after Saim Ayub’s poor form in the tournament. Ayub has scored only 23 runs at a strike-rate of 95.83, which could see him replaced by Khushdil Shah or Hassan Nawaz. Captain Salman Agha may also shoulder more responsibility at No.4.

For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed and Litton Das will return, replacing Parvez Hossain Emon and Mohammad Saifuddin.

Predicted Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz/Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.

Dubai Pitch Conditions
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitch has been slow and sluggish, favoring teams chasing targets. Toss-winning teams may prefer to field first, taking advantage of conditions in the first innings.

Match Timing and Broadcast
The Pakistan vs Bangladesh match will start at 8 pm IST. Fans can livestream the match on the SonyLiv app or watch it live on Sony Sports Network.

With a spot in the final against India at stake, both Pakistan and Bangladesh will need their top players firing and strategic execution to reach the pinnacle of the Asia Cup 2025.