Pakistan was strongly considering a boycott of their Asia Cup group match against the UAE after the International Cricket Council declined to remove match referee Andy Pycroft, sources told Geo News.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had formally asked the ICC to relieve Pycroft following the India–Pakistan match in Dubai, a request the global body refused, prompting Pakistan to consider not taking the field for its next fixture.
The dispute stems from the high-profile toss incident when India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav declined the customary handshake with Pakistan’s skipper after India’s seven-wicket win. Pakistan complained and asked the ICC to act by removing the match referee from future fixtures in the tournament. The ICC reviewed the plea and opted not to replace Pycroft, a decision that has reportedly provoked a strong reaction within the PCB.
Pakistan vs UAE match to go ahead
According to ESPNcricinfo, there will be a full game with the first ball to be bowled at 7:30pm local time, an hour after the scheduled start. Pycroft will referee the match.
Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the PCB and ACC President, held a meeting with former chairs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi in Lahore. According to PCB spokesperson Amir Mir, “they are discussing the issue [of Pycroft remaining match referee] and are in touch with Dubai over the matter. The match has been delayed by an hour for now.”
Soon after Naqvi confirmed the Pakistan team would be making their way to the Dubai International Stadium. “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow,” he wrote on X.
Assuming the match does go ahead, the Pakistan team will have to switch on quickly in a virtual knockout match against UAE. It has been a week full of distractions for Salman Agha’s team following the handshake saga in the India match. If they lose to the UAE in Dubai, Pakistan will be out of the tournament in what would be a huge disappointment given the promising form they showed in the leadup to the Asia Cup.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set for an earlier start next year, with the fourth edition expected to begin in the first week of January 2026, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The move marks a shift from the tournament’s traditional February-March window, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) keen to complete the league ahead of the men’s T20 World Cup.
The season is likely to get underway around January 6 or 8, giving the league its own dedicated window before the global men’s event begins in February. Officials believe the new schedule will allow the WPL to avoid calendar congestion and ensure maximum visibility for women’s cricket.
WPL 2026 schedule to be confirmed soon for January season
The format will remain unchanged, featuring five franchises playing in a double round-robin league followed by playoffs. There has been no confirmation of venue changes, but franchises are expected to benefit from the additional preparation time, whether through training camps or squad adjustments ahead of the new season.
The shift also provides clarity for players, who will now have fewer clashes with international fixtures or other franchise leagues. For broadcasters and sponsors, the earlier start offers a clean run for promotions and programming. Logistically, staging the tournament in January also reduces scheduling pressure on stadiums and ensures smoother operations.
Since its inception, the WPL has been pivotal in transforming women’s cricket in India, creating a platform for domestic players to share space with some of the world’s best. Moving the tournament up the calendar is being viewed as another strategic step to strengthen its identity and give it greater independence from men’s events.
With season four set to roll out in January, fans can expect a packed build-up and greater anticipation for what has quickly become one of the most significant tournaments in women’s cricket.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take on Pakistan in the 10th match of the 2025 Asia Cup. Dubai International Stadium will be the venue for this match and it will be played on 17th September 2025 at 8:00 PM IST.
UAE won their last game against Oman quite convincingly by 42 runs. Openers Muhammed Waseem (69 run) and Alishan Sharafu (51 runs) did the bulk of the scoring. If they are to cause an upset here, the middle order needs to step up when required.
Junaid Siddique (4 wickets) bowled well with the new ball and then towards the end of the innings. Haider Ali (2 wickets) was also impressive. Muhammad Rohid Khan and Muhammad Jawadullah also did well as they picked up two wickets each. UAE’s bowlers will have to perform as a unit for them to trouble the Pakistani batters.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are coming off a humiliating loss against India by seven wickets. They crawled to 127 and lost with four overs to spare. Their batters failed to tackle the Indian spinners and looked clueless in the middle overs.
Saim Ayub has two golden ducks to his name after the first two games and must find some form. Skipper Salman Agha too has failed to get going with the bat. Mohammad Nawaz has been in good form lately and he alongside Hasan Nawaz will do the late hitting duties.
Bowling wise, Pakistan relies heavily on their spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem. Saim Ayub also bowls 2-3 overs. Faheem Ashraf will be the second pacer after Shaheen Afridi and he can hit a long ball, too.
Asia Cup 2025 10th Match: UAE vs PAK Probable Playing XIs
UAE: 1. Muhammad Waseem (c), 2. Alishan Sharafu, 3. Muhammad Zohaib, 4. Rahul Chopra (wk), 5. Asif Khan, 6. Harshit Kaushik, 7. Dhruv Parashar, 8. Haider Ali, 9. Muhammad Rohid Khan, 10. Junaid Siddique, 11. Muhammad Jawadullah
Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Mohammad Haris (wk), 4. Fakhar Zaman, 5. Salman Agha (c), 6. Hasan Nawaz, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Shaheen Afridi, 10. Sufiyan Muqeem, 11. Abrar Ahmed
Dubai International Stadium Pitch Report and Weather
Dew plays a role in Dubai, especially in the latter half of the game. The new ball will move around and there will be something for the spinners as well before the dew settles in. Overall, it will be an excellent wicket for batting. Scores in the range of 150-170 are expected, especially if Pakistan bats first.
Teams will prefer chasing considering how batting gets better as the game goes on, despite Pakistan surprisingly choosing to bat against India.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for UAE vs PAK: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Mohammad Haris will be a must in your fantasy teams. He scored 66 runs in the first game against Oman. He has started batting at three and it makes him an excellent fantasy pick. Haris will be a top C/VC choice while batting first.
Key batter picks:
Muhammad Waseem will open the batting for UAE. He bats aggressively and can take the game away from the opposition on his day. Waseem scored 69 in the last game against Hong Kong. He is good facing spin bowling and can score big if he gets going in this match.
Alishan Sharafu is a key part of UAE’s batting unit and he has done well in the last match (51 runs). He and Waseem are the pillars of UAE’s batting unit.
Sahibzada Farhan likes to attack from the word go. He can score some quick runs fetching good points in fantasy cricket. Farhan scored 40 in the last game against India and will be eyeing a big score in this match too.
Top all-rounder picks:
Mohammad Nawaz will do the late hitting duties for Pakistan and will bowl his full quota. He picked up two wickets against Oman and a similar performance is expected from him in this game. He will be a top C/VC option.
Saim Ayub picked up three wickets in the last game against India. He can bowl in any phase of the innings and has a knack of picking up wickets alongside his explosive batting. He will be the default C/VC option in fantasy cricket.
Key bowler picks:
Sufiyan Muqeem has been in good form recently and he can go through UAE’s middle order in this match. Try him as C/VC in this match in one or two fantasy teams.
Abrar Ahmed conceded only 16 runs in his four overs against India. He has quite a few variations and is another top C/VC option for this match. Abrar can bowl with the new ball and then towards the end of the innings as well.
Shaheen Afridi has been far from his best in recent times but he will fancy his chances in this game. He picks up wickets in clusters and can run through UAE’s top order if he gets going.
Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team
Junaid Siddique has done well for UAE in the tournament so far. He picked up four wickets in the last match against Oman. Try him as C/VC in one team if UAE bowls first.
Faheem Ashraf will be the second pacer for Pakistan if Haris Rauf continues to be unavailable. He will bowl the important overs and can pick up a few wickets in this match, especially if Pakistan bowls first.
Other picks you can consider:
Haider Ali
Fakhar Zaman
Hasan Nawaz
Asia Cup 2025 10th Match: UAE vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
Asia Cup 2025 10th Match: UAE vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
Asia Cup 2025 10th Match: UAE vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
Asia Cup 2025 10th Match: UAE vs PAK Match Prediction: Who will win?
Despite UAE winning their last game, Pakistan will start as the firm favorites to win this match. They have good depth in their batting and their spinners can prove to be too much to handle for UAE batters, especially middle order.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
Bangladesh are in must-win territory in the 9th match of the 2025 Asia Cup. The Tigers were disappointing in their defeat against Sri Lanka, lacking batting impact in an all-too-familiar occurrence. After a poor start, they never recovered.
It won’t get much easier here. They tackle Afghanistan who themselves have a high-quality spin attack and strong knowledge of the Abu Dhabi conditions. The Afghans come into this game after a week’s break, which should have allowed them to improve on certain aspects of their game including their top order batting and fielding.
Victory for Afghanistan will seal a Super Four spot. If Bangladesh win, they’ll need Afghanistan to beat Sri Lanka in the final game. It’s all to play for, with the spotlight on Bangladesh’s batters in particular against the Afghan bowling attack. If they get stuck and are unable to find the boundary, it could be another tough day.
Asia Cup 2025 9th Match: BAN vs AFG Probable Playing XIs
Afghanistan: 1. Sediqullah Atal, 2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3. Ibrahim Zadran, 4. Mohammad Nabi, 5. Gulbadin Naib, 6. Azmatullah Omarzai, 7. Karim Janat, 8. Rashid Khan (c), 9. Noor Ahmad, 10. AM Ghazanfar, 11. Fazalhaq Farooqi
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather
The Abu Dhabi surfaces have been good for batting so far in this Asia Cup. Conditions looked excellent for the batters in the UAE-Oman game on Monday. That was a day game where dew wasn’t a factor, so chasing may still be preferred here.
The team batting second won two games before that UAE-Oman game. Another warm and clear evening is forecast.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for BAN vs AFG: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Top wicket-keeper picks:
The spotlight is on Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Afghanistan’s keeper-batsman has lacked form recently and has a poor record against Bangladesh in T20Is: 8 inns, 110 runs, avg. 13.75, SR 88.70. However, he is worth considering for Dream11 given his potential.
A lot rests on Litton Das for Bangladesh. He has the most runs in BAN-AFG T20Is (227) at an average of 25.22 and strike rate that needs a lift (109.66).
Key batter picks:
Sediqullah Atal top scored in Afghanistan’s tournament opener against Hong Kong (73* off 52 balls). He also scored two half-centuries in the recent tri-series against UAE and Pakistan.
Ibrahim Zadran missed out in the last two T20Is, but did show solid form in the recent tri-series with scores of 63 (vs UAE), 65 (vs Pakistan) and 48 (vs UAE). He is one of the premier batters in Afghanistan cricket and is capable of scoring well.
Top all-rounder picks:
Pick Azmatullah Omarzai with confidence. The in-form all-rounder is a genuine captaincy option, especially if Afghanistan bat first. He struck a 21-ball 53 against Hong Kong and moved the ball upfront. Against Bangladesh’s shaky top order, Omarzai will fancy his chances again.
Key bowler picks:
Rashid Khan is a genuine c/vc option in Dream11. The Afghan captain has dominated Bangladesh in T20Is, taking 22 wickets in 11 matches (avg. 10.54, SR 11.45).
Taskin Ahmed, who has taken 14 wickets in his last five T20Is, is expected to return in this clash. He has a good matchup against Gurbaz in T20Is (27 balls, 24 runs, two wickets).
Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes every 18 deliveries against Bangladesh in T20Is. Here, he can test Bangladesh’s shaky top order and finishing in the crunch overs.
Noor Ahmad is a genuine, proven wicket-taker. Bangladesh’s shaky T20I batting represents an opportunity for Noor to grab 1-2 wickets.
Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams
Twohid Hridoy has 80 runs in three T20Is against Afghanistan at an average of 40.00 and strike rate of 137.93.
Mustafizur Rahman is seeking his best wicket-taking form. He takes less than one wicket per game against Afghanistan (six wickets in eight games). He has a good record against Gurbaz in all T20s: 45 balls, 45 runs, two wickets.
Mohammad Nabi didn’t bowl against Hong Kong. The veteran can still be a good fantasy pick as he bats up the order.
AM Ghazanfar can be a good differential pick. Bangladesh have had their issues against mystery spin in the past. Expect Ghazanfar to play a role in the powerplay.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib has been solid in this Asia Cup, with three wickets in two matches so far.
Stats and Other Matchups
Head-to-head in T20Is: Matches 12, Afghanistan 7, Bangladesh 5.
Rashid Khan has had the better of Towhid Hridoy in all white-ball internationals (ODIs and T20Is): 58 balls, 31 runs, four wickets.
Mahedi Hasan has an important role to play against Sediqullah Atal. The Afghan opener averages just 19.2 with a strike rate of 106.7 against offspin in all T20s.
Asia Cup 2025 9th Match: BAN vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
Asia Cup 2025 9th Match: BAN vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
Asia Cup 2025 9th Match: BAN vs AFG Dream11 Prediction
Asia Cup 2025 9th Match: BAN vs AFG Match Prediction: Who will win?
This has the potential to be a close match. However, Afghanistan look a more well-rounded team for T20I cricket. They will win and seal their passage to the Super Four.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson says his decision to bat first against India in the Asia Cup 2025 clash at Dubai was strategic as he expected the pitch to slow down as the game progressed. Hesson believed that setting a target would give Pakistan an advantage if the surface made scoring harder later on.
At the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bat first, citing the dry Dubai surface and expectations of it becoming less favorable for batting later. Hesson explained that the pitch at Dubai is different in terms of abrasiveness as compared to Sharjah, and he expected conditions would assist spin and slower bowling as time passed.
Coach Mike Hesson provides reason as to why Pakistan chose to bat first
Pakistan entered the match with a versatile squad, including five spinners, giving them flexibility depending on how the surface played out.
Hesson emphasised they had to prepare for both scenarios, spin-friendly conditions or otherwise. The gamble did not pay off as India’s spinners capitalised on the turning conditions, restricting Pakistan to 127/9. India chased down the total with ease.
“Not so much recent history but certainly longer term history, it does [make sense],” Hesson said of Pakistan’s decision to bat first, as quoted by Cricbuzz. “I guess over the last six games and even throughout the whole tri-series, sides won chasing. [But] there’s not as much dew as there has been in the past, so dew’s not really a factor.”
Hesson admitted his side was soundly beaten today but insisted they remain in the tournament mentally and tactically.
“I guess these used surfaces, they’re slow and they get slower. So in many ways, runs on the board the other day can help but we didn’t bat well enough. So that’s the reality, whether we batted first or second we weren’t good enough at the bat. We left ourselves probably 20 or 30 short and we all know through those middle overs we got squeezed. So lots to work on against a good bowling attack but I was pleased with the way the guys fought hard in the field, albeit with a score that wasn’t enough.”
Choosing to bat first is often about trying to avoid the second-innings challenges of slower, drier surfaces and spin turning. Pakistan tried aligning its strategy with those expectations, but to no avail on Sunday.
The two teams will likely meet again in the Super Four stage pending Pakistan’s match against the UAE this week.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) will lock horns against Oman in the 7th match of Asia Cup 2025. Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi will be the venue for this match and it will be played on 15th September 2025 at 5:30 PM IST.
Both sides have lost their respective first games of the tournament and will be eager to open their account in this one.
UAE lost to India by nine wickets in their first match. They were bundled out for just 57. Alishan Sharafu (22 runs) showed some promise at the top before the Indian bowlers ran through the lineup. Sharafu alongside skipper Muhammad Waseem will be the key players with the bat for UAE at the top. Asif Khan is another important batter who can turn things around on his day.
Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan and Haider Ali are the main bowlers for UAE. Haider Ali impressed a lot during the first game against India while Siddique and Rohid Khan led the pace attack. UAE are not as bad as a team as they performed against India and expect them to be more confident and perform better in this match.
Oman, meanwhile, had Pakistan at 120 for 5 at one point but then they lost the advantage and eventually lost the game by a big margin of 93 runs. Amir Kaleem (3 wickets & 13 runs) and Shah Faisal (3 wickets) did well with the ball for Oman. They completely lost the plot with the bat as they got bowled out for 67. Jatinder Singh, Aamir Kaleem and Mohammad Nadeem are the key players for Oman with both bat and ball.
Oman lacks depth with the bat but they have a few quality players who can win games single-handedly on their day.
Asia Cup 2025 7th Match: UAE vs OMN Probable Playing XIs
UAE: 1. Muhammad Waseem (c), 2. Alishan Sharafu, 3. Muhammad Zohaib, 4. Rahul Chopra (wk), 5. Asif Khan, 6. Harshit Kaushik, 7. Dhruv Parashar, 8. Haider Ali, 9. Muhammad Rohid Khan, 10. Junaid Siddique, 11. Simranjeet Singh
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather
The pitch is expected to be a good one for batting. The ball will come onto the bat nicely allowing the batters to play their shots. There will be movement for the pacers with the new ball. It’s a day game and on top of that the big boundaries will keep the spinners in play.
Teams will prefer chasing but batting first won’t be a bad option here. Scores in the range of 140-160 are expected.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for UAE vs OMN: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Rahul Chopra came to bat at 4 in the last game and looks the best option out of the wicket-keepers.
Key batter picks:
Muhammad Waseem averages 67.20 at a whopping strike rate of 179.10 against Oman in T20Is. He has 403 runs against them in six innings including two fifties and a century. Waseem will be UAE’s best bet with the bat in this game. Try him as C/VC in this match.
Alishan Sharafu is a key part of UAE’s batting unit and he has done well in the recent times. Sharafu has a solid technique and he will be an ideal Captain choice in fantasy cricket.
Jatinder Singh will open the innings for Oman and he’s one of the best batters for his side. He can also bowl an over or two if required. The onus will be on his shoulders to get Oman off to a good start.
Top all-rounder picks:
Aamir Kaleem will bowl 4 overs and open the innings for Oman. He picked up 3 wickets and scored 13 runs with the bat. He will be a top captain choice in fantasy cricket.
Mohammad Nadeem will bat at 4 and will bowl a few overs too. He bats aggressively and will bowl the important overs for his team. Nadeem will fetch points from both bat and ball. He’ll be an excellent C/VC option.
Key bowler picks:
Junaid Siddique will lead UAE’s pace attack. He will bowl in the powerplay and then in the death overs too. He picked up one wicket in the last game. Try Siddique as C/VC in the last match.
Haider Ali is another must in your fantasy teams. He was very impressive in the first game against India and can be the game changer in fantasy cricket. He’ll be another great C/VC choice.
Faisal Shah picked up 3 wickets against Pakistan. He will bowl in the powerplay and then in the death overs for Oman. He has a good back of the hand slower delivery in his arsenal.
Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team
Mohammad Rohid Khanis an impressive young pacer from UAE. He can swing the new ball both ways and is capable of bowling in the death overs. Rohit plays for MI Emirates in the ILT20. Try him as C/VC, especially while bowling first.
Hammad Miraz was the standout performer for Oman against Pakistan in their first match (27). He batted at 3.
Other picks you can consider:
Muhammad Jawadullah (if plays)
Sufyan Mehmood
Kinchit Shah
Asia Cup 2025 7th Match: UAE vs OMN Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
Asia Cup 2025 7th Match: UAE vs OMN Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
Asia Cup Asia Cup 2025 7th Match: UAE vs OMN Dream11 Prediction
Asia Cup 2025 7th Match: UAE vs OMN Match Prediction: Who will win?
Both teams are expected to perform much better compared to their respective last matches performance. Both teams don’t bat very deep but have quality batters at the top. UAE is expected to emerge victorious as they have quality with the bat (compared to Oman) and their bowling attack also looks much more threatening.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
India refused to shake hands with Pakistan before and after their seven-wicket win in their Asia Cup clash in Dubai.
The meeting between the two nations was the first since the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Fans, victims, and politicians had called for a boycott and questioned why the match even went ahead. Team India’s response was to not shake hands after agreeing with the government and BCCI.
“Our government and BCCI – we were aligned today,” Suryakumar said at his post-match press conference, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “Rest, we took a call [about not shaking hands]. We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply.”
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson expressed disappointment, stating his team were ready to shake hands. Captain Salman Agha then did not make an appearance for the post-match interview.
“We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that. We sort of went over there to shake hands and they’d already gone into the changing room,” Hesson said.
“That was a disappointing way for the match to finish, and a match we were disappointed for the way we played, but we were certainly willing to shake hands.”
Reactions: India refuse to shake hands with Pakistan players before and after Asia Cup win
“This win is dedicated to the armed forces of India and the victims of the Pahalgam attack. Jai Hind,” wrote Suryakumar Yadav on X following the victory.
Predictably, the decision not to shake hands has led to mixed reactions. Some were in support of the move, while others lamented the lack of sportsmanship.
View: India were wrong to refuse handshakes
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi led the chorus of discontent around India’s decision. He believes politics should not be mixed with sports.
“Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today,” he wrote on X. “Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Lets hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace.”
Former Pakistan player Rashid Latif also spoke out in disappointment. “Yes you are India cricket, yes you are the best team in the world… but not to shake hands at the end of the game… shows your real colours!!! Pakistan players were waiting but Indian players went inside dressing room!! Where is ICC,” he wrote on X.
Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Lets hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace
Yes you are India cricket , yes you are the best team in the world .. but not to shake hands at the end of the game .. shows your real colours !!! Pakistan players were waiting but Indian players went inside dressing room !! Where is ICC#AsiaCup2025#INDvsPAKpic.twitter.com/zRv16mrjMc
If you don't want to shake hands before & after, you shouldn't play the game at all. It's a sporting contest. Not a war. Or a platform to amplify negativity. The Indian team should be above such childish and disrespectful behaviour & hold themselves to higher standards #PAKvIND
ICC once stopped Moeen Ali from wearing "Free Palestine" wristband because it was displaying a "political message". They didn't let Usman Khawaja wear shoes that said "All lives are equal" because it was a "political message". #JustSaying
Others were in support of India’s decision. Fans and pundits referred to social media posts and reactions published by Pakistani players soon after the attack, including from Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed.
I am against mixing of sports & politics but it was started by pakistani players. Not one indian players posted any below the belt tweet durning war but all Pakistani player whether u talk about Faheem, Abrar , Sufiyan acted like troll. So nothing wrong in treating troll as same. https://t.co/yIcDrWVU3Bpic.twitter.com/7qi31sjQJK
So Indian cricketers didn’t shake hands with Pakistan cricket team after the match. Nobody came down and Pakistanis left the field after waiting.
Those in power didn’t take a stand but it’s good to see players doing whatever they can on the field to show Pakistanis their right… pic.twitter.com/6ZccBf0SxT
No handshake after the match. Pakistan players kept waiting, India shut the door. Atleast, our players showed some spine in the way they could.. Protest delivered. Respect earned 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rjCez1NwQK
I may be in the minority but boycotting this match would've given Pak free 2 points once the schedule was already made. Destroying them, denying handshake then shutting the dressing room door on their face was a bigger and better slap.
No Handshakes between India & Pak Players!! Well done to boys in blue!!🇮🇳💙 Players have shown spine, now if government has one then show and don’t put india & Pak in same group from next time! pic.twitter.com/P2Rv1QulW1
In the match itself, India were far too good. Their well-rounded attack restricted Pakistan to 97/8 in the 18th over, with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 16-ball 33* the only bright spot for Salman Agha’s team.
In response, Abhishek Sharma (31 off 13 balls) provided a rapid start in the powerplay. From there, Suryakumar Yadav led the way expertly to guide his team home by seven wickets and 25 deliveries to spare.
India are now through to the Super Four stage. Pakistan will confirm their passage to the next round if they beat the UAE on Wednesday.
India-Pakistan matches are typically source of high anticipation, but the calls for a boycott have been loud ahead of their 2025 Asia Cup clash. The two nations will meet on September 14, but talk of whether this match should be going ahead at all has dominated the conversation in the lead up.
On April 22, political tensions between India and Pakistan were amplified following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people. The attack, comdembed by by many countries around the world, led to closed borders, military conflict, and restricted trade in the following weeks.
Aishanya Dwivedi, wife of Pahalgam attack victim Shubham Dwivedi, has criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for going ahead with this match. She has also urged fans not to watch and questioned the priorities of the Indian players.
“I cannot understand this. I urge people to boycott this. Do not go to watch this and do not switch on your TV for this,” Dwivedi told ANI, as quoted by News18.
“BCCI should not have accepted a match between India and Pakistan…I think BCCI is not sentimental towards those 26 families and the martyrs of the Operation Sindoor.”
“What are our cricketers doing? It is said that cricketers are nationalists. It is viewed as our national game. Except for 1-2 cricket players, nobody stepped forward to say that we should boycott the match against Pakistan. BCCI cannot make them play at gu
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also critical of the match going ahead.
“What is the need for the Prime Minister to organise a match with Pakistan? The whole country is saying that this match should not happen. Then why is this match being organised?,” he said, as quoted by Times of India.
“Playing a match with Pakistan is a betrayal of the country. Every Indian is extremely angry about this,” Kejriwal continued.
Calls to boycott India Pakistan match grow in lead up to Asia Cup match
Many fans on social media have expressed their view on the match. Other large accounts have announced they will boycott, while other prominent accounts, including Mufaddal Vohra, list other matches happening on Sunday 14 September without mentioning India vs Pakistan.
Will not be watching/ following the Asia Cup match between India and Paxtan. #PahalgamTerrorAttack still hurts me.
THE BIGGEST MATCH OF THE SUPER SUNDAY COMING UP…!!! 🔥
– England will face South Africa in the T20i series decider starting from 7pm. England made a historic total last night of 304/2. pic.twitter.com/rPNU5M0Dsl
Dear all my cricket fans who are following my handle or not but if you are going to watch Ind Vs Pak match… Then think about those people who lost their life in Pahalgam attack…. Then pls watch this video and think about the situation of father who lost his son who was a… pic.twitter.com/jLbdIyKMu3
Call it activism, journalism, or patriotism…say what you will. In a middle-class home we’re taught one thing…nothing above the nation. For me, Pahalgam & Operation Sindoor outweigh any sport or govt. On our channel, it’s boycott. Rest is your choice.#BoycottINDvPAKpic.twitter.com/q65EPT7AXn
In respect of those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack, and standing with my Indian brothers and sisters, I fully support the boycott of the India vs Pakistan match. if you agree than join this trend and retweet.#BoycottINDvPAKpic.twitter.com/XVDkrdJBfq
In the context of the Asia Cup, the winner of this clash will progress to the Super Four after India and Pakistan registered comfortable wins against UAE and Oman respectively.
This ever-growing rivalry has another episode as Bangladesh take on Sri Lanka in the 5th game of the 2025 Asia Cup. The game will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 13th September 2025 from 8:00 PM IST.
Bangladesh defeated Hong Kong by seven wickets in their first game of the tournament. It was a comprehensive victory with their bowlers doing a good job and the middle order (Litton Das 59 runs and Towhid Hridoy 35* runs) seeing their side over the line. Tanzid Hasan Sakib (2 wickets), Taskin Ahmed (2 wickets) and Rishad Hossain (2 wickets) were the successful bowlers for Bangladesh.
The batters, especially the openers looked a bit scratchy in the first match. Towhid Hridoy too took 36 deliveries for his 35 runs. Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in a 3-match T20I series in July this year and they’ll look to register their second consecutive win in this Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, recently defeated Zimbabwe in a 3-match T20I series. They have been in good form as a side in the shortest format but consistency, especially in away conditions, has been an issue. The likes of Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis will be the key players for them with the bat. Kamil Mishara and Kusal Perera will be important too.
Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera are the main bowlers for Sri Lanka. They have a pretty balanced squad with good batting depth. Sri Lanka will be eyeing a win to kickstart their campaign in a tough Group B.
Asia Cup 2025 5th Match: BAN vs SL Probable Playing XIs
Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi Pitch Report and Weather
The pitch was a good one for batting in the first two games played here. The average first innings score has been 165 runs but expect it to be around 170-180 in this match. The new ball will move around a bit but the batters can play their shots trusting the pitch. Bigger boundaries will also aid the spinners.
Teams will prefer chasing but batting first won’t be a bad option here.
Fantasy Cricket Tips for BAN vs SL: Players to Watch/Key Stats
Note: Try to pick more batters and all-rounders if you are playing on Dream11. The new point system rewards the batters heavily.
Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:
Litton Das scored 59 runs in the last match. He’s been the best batter for his side and a lot will be on his shoulders in this match. Litton is a good player of both pace and spin and will be a good C/VC pick too.
Kusal Mendis averages 44.10 against Bangladesh in 12 T20Is at a strike rate of 159.80 including seven fifties. He will be a must in your fantasy teams in this match.
Key batter picks:
Kusal Perera has scored 390 runs in 11 T20Is against Bangladesh at an average of 35.50 including five fifties. He bats aggressively and will be a key batter for his team against Bangladesh’s spinners.
Pathum Nissanka was in decent form in the recent series against Zimbabwe. He scored 55, 8 and 33 in the three matches. He will open the innings for Sri Lanka and can score big on his day. Nissanka will be a good fantasy pick.
Top all-rounder picks:
Mahedi Hasan will be a key bowler for Bangladesh considering Sri Lanka’s left-hand heavy batting line-up. The off-spinner can bowl in any phase of the innings and is capable with the bat too. Try him as captain in some of your teams.
Rishad Hossain has 10 wickets against Sri Lanka in seven T20Is at an economy of 6.53 and a strike rate of 15.80. He can tonk the ball if he gets the chance to bat. He will be another top C/VC option.
Wanindu Hasaranga will lead Sri Lanka’s spin attack. He is a genuine wicket-taker who can go through any batting lineup on his day. Hasaranga is handy with the bat and will be the default C/VC choice for this match.
Key bowler picks:
Tanzim Hasan Sakib will bowl with the new ball and then towards the end for Bangladesh. He hits the deck hard and has a good back of the hand slower delivery. He picked up two wickets in the last match against Hong Kong including a maiden over.
Mustafizur Rahman is another solid option for your fantasy teams. He has been in good form lately, picking up wickets with the new ball and in the death overs.
Nuwan Thushara has 12 wickets to his name in five T20Is against Bangladesh including a 5-wicket haul. He nails the yorker with both the new ball and then towards the end of the innings. He can be a game changer in fantasy cricket.
Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team
Matheesha Pathirana has been off colour for some time now but he picks up wickets in clusters on his day. Try him as c/vc in your fantasy teams.
Taskin Ahmed picked up 72 Dream11 points against Hong Kong.
Other picks you can consider:
Shamim Hossain
Charith Asalanka
Parvez Hossain Emon
Asia Cup 2025 5th Match: BAN vs SL Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.
Option 1:
Asia Cup 2025 5th Match: BAN vs SL Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
Asia Cup 2025 5th Match: BAN vs SL Dream11 Prediction
Asia Cup 2025 5th Match: BAN vs SL Match Prediction: Who will win?
Bangladesh are coming to this game on the back of a comprehensive win against Hong Kong and they also won the last series against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, did well in the series against Zimbabwe but they weren’t near their best as a side. It will be a neck-to-neck contest but expect Bangladesh to win this one.
Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has turned up the heat in the 2025 Asia Cup, claiming that Mohammad Nawaz is the best spinner in the world right now.
Hesson named Nawaz alongside Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem as his key spinning options for the tournament. He said that over the past six months, Nawaz has been ranked that way, which raises eyebrows, because the latest official rankings don’t place him near the top tier.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson heaps praise on Mohammad Nawaz
“I guess the beauty of our side is we’ve got five spinners. We’ve got Mohammad Nawaz, who’s the best spin bowler in the world at the moment, and he’s been ranked that way over the last six months since he’s come back on the side,” said Hesson in a press conference ahead of Pakistan’s clash with Oman, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
“And obviously, we have Abrar and Sufiyan. Saim Ayub is now in the top 10 all-rounders in the world. And Salman Ali Agha has hardly bowled, and he’s also the Test spinner for Pakistan. So, you know, we’ve got a lot of spin bowling options, if we think conditions suit that.”
In contrast, Kuldeep Yadav is ranked lower and Varun’s performance curve is still steep. Nawaz has played a greater number of T20Is lately, with more consistent spells, though he hasn’t always grabbed the limelight. Hesson emphasised Pakistan is well stocked in spin, “We have five spinners. If conditions suit spin, we’re ready,” he said.
For India, the response will come via the pitch and the match. Kuldeep and Varun will need to back up their reputations with wickets and clutch spells. The statement also shifts the narrative somewhat. Once, spin was the domain where India claimed mastery. Pakistan’s spin depth is being framed not as support, but as a strength to match India head-on.
“We’ve got Mohammad Nawaz, who’s the best spin bowler in the world at the moment, and he’s been ranked that way over the last six months since he’s come back on the side”
Pakistan coach mike hesson
What remains to be seen is how Nawaz performs when the pressure peaks. Ranking shifts, matchups, and pitch conditions all will play a role. But with Hesson’s backing, the expectations are solid.
India and Pakistan will face off on the cricket field on September 14 in Dubai amid heightened tensions between the two countries of late.
