India and Pakistan will meet in the Asia Cup 2025 final for the first time ever. Pakistan qualified for the final with an 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their last Super 4 clash.
India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the final of the Asia Cup for the first time ever in the 41-year-long history of the tournament. Pakistan sealed their berth in the Asia Cup 2025 final with an 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their last Super 4 fixture on Thursday, September 25 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (3/17) and Haris Rauf (3/33) helped their team defend a low total of 135/8 as they restricted Bangladesh to 124/9. As a result, they set their third meeting with India in the ongoing edition of the continental event on Sunday, September 28. In cricketing history, India and Pakistan have met in the final five times in a multinational tournament involving more than three teams.
Out of those five finals, Pakistan managed to get the better of India thrice. The first time two teams locked horns in a tournament final was in 1985 during the final of the World Championship of Cricket, where India emerged victorious by eight wickets. On the other hand, their last meeting in a final came during the Champions Trophy 2017, when Pakistan stunned India with a 180-run victory. Here’s a recap of all five India vs Pakistan finals in multi-national tournaments (more than 3 teams involved):
World Championship of Cricket final, 1984
Batting first, Pakistan scored 176/9 riding on captain Javed Miandad’s innings of 48 (92). For India, Kapil Dev (3/23) and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (3/35) emerged as the top wicket takers. Later, Ravi Shastri (63*) and Kris Srikkanth (67 off 77) helped India chase down the target in 47.1 overs, helping India win by eight wickets.