Cricket’s most storied rivalry will take centre stage once again as India and Pakistan gear up to face each other in the Super Four clash of the ongoing Asia Cup on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. The excitement around the high-voltage encounter is already palpable, with both teams bracing for another nail-biting contest between the two giants of world cricket.

The clash comes just days after the two sides squared off in the group stage, where India asserted their dominance with a comprehensive seven-wicket win. That game saw India’s batting firepower shine through as they comfortably chased down Pakistan’s target. The emphatic victory not only handed India early dominance but also highlighted the gulf in confidence between the two teams heading into the Super Four.

However, Sunday’s meeting carries far greater significance. With a place in the Asia Cup final at stake, both teams will be eager to deliver their best cricket. India will look to continue their winning momentum, while Pakistan will be desperate to bounce back and settle scores after their earlier setback.

Notably, the build-up to the fixture has also been fuelled by controversy. The group-stage clash was marred by a post-match handshake row after reports suggested that the Indian players did not take part in the customary gesture. The incident sparked outrage from the Pakistan camp, prompting PCB to write to ICC demanding the immediate removal of Zimbabwean match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament. However, the ICC rejected the PCB's demand. Meanwhile, the latest fiasco has added another layer of tension to what is already cricket’s most intense rivalry.

On the field, much will depend on how Pakistan’s top order responds to India’s spin attack, which was clinical in their last meeting. Meanwhile, India’s batting line-up, led by young firebrand Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill, will look to keep their composure against Pakistan’s bowling attack.

Head-to-head

In the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan have faced each other in 20 matches. India have claimed victories in 11 games, whereas Pakistan have won six matches. Three matches ended without a result.

Possible India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.

Possible Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed.