UAE Confident of India-Pakistan Match Going Ahead
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has dismissed speculation that India might boycott their scheduled Asia Cup 2025 fixture against Pakistan. The reassurance comes amid concerns in cricketing circles about political tensions spilling over into the tournament.
The Asia Cup will run from 9 to 28 September 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, with India officially hosting the event. Pakistan and India are due to meet in their first group-stage clash on 14 September, with a possible second encounter on 21 September in the Super Four stage. Should both sides reach the final, fans could witness a rare third meeting between the arch-rivals in the same tournament.
Subhan Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Cricket Board, told Express in an interview that he saw no reason to believe India would skip the marquee encounter.
“We cannot give a 100 percent guarantee, but we are hopeful that the Indian team will take part against Pakistan,” Ahmed said. “All teams have confirmed participation after obtaining approval from their respective governments.”
Political Context of India-Pakistan Cricket
Matches between Pakistan and India remain among the most-watched events in world sport. However, political tensions between the two nations have often disrupted cricketing ties. India has not toured Pakistan for a bilateral series since 2008, citing security and political concerns. Pakistan last toured India in 2012.
In recent years, both teams have only met in multi-nation events such as the Asia Cup and the ICC World Cup. Their encounters draw massive global television audiences, with the 2023 ODI World Cup match between the sides attracting over 300 million viewers worldwide, according to ICC figures.
This year’s Asia Cup, therefore, carries significant commercial and symbolic weight for the cricketing world.
Ticket Fraud Alerts Issued
Ahmed also revealed that demand for tickets has led to the circulation of counterfeit passes on social media platforms, even though official sales have not yet opened.
“Fans must only buy tickets from the official website,” he cautioned. “The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Emirates Cricket Board have already issued alerts to prevent scams. We are working to keep ticket prices affordable so that more fans can attend.”
The warning comes as authorities expect record-breaking crowds for the Pakistan-India games, particularly in Dubai. UAE has previously hosted the Asia Cup in 2018, when stadiums were filled to capacity during the two rivals’ encounters.
Seating Arrangements for Fans
Responding to a question about crowd management, Ahmed confirmed that Dubai authorities had issued no directive to separate Indian and Pakistani supporters inside the stadiums.
“Fans will sit together and enjoy the match as before,” he said. “There is no government decision to segregate them in Dubai.”
However, he acknowledged that in the past, local officials in Sharjah required Afghan and Pakistani fans to sit separately due to crowd management concerns. “But no Asia Cup matches will be staged in Sharjah this year,” Ahmed clarified.
Tournament Opening and Visa Rules
Unlike other international tournaments, the Asia Cup 2025 will not begin with a lavish opening ceremony. Ahmed confirmed that organisers plan to keep proceedings simple and focused on cricket.
Players and officials will receive special visa facilitation for the event. General spectators, however, must apply for standard UAE visas through regular procedures. The policy aims to ensure smooth entry while avoiding logistical bottlenecks.
Looking Ahead
As the countdown begins, anticipation is building for one of the biggest sporting rivalries on the calendar. Cricket analysts suggest that the success of the Asia Cup in the UAE could also set the tone for future tournaments in the region, particularly given the country’s reputation as a neutral and secure host.
For millions of fans across South Asia and beyond, the focus will remain on whether Pakistan and India can meet not once, but possibly three times, in a single month.
