DUBAI: Pakistani fans appeared in full strength at the ICC Academy on Saturday to greet their team ahead of the highly expected Asia Cup 2025 final against India.
The atmosphere was electric, with supporters sang patriotic slogans such as “Dil Dil Pakistan” and “Jeeway Jeeway Pakistan.”
Spotlight was firm on the opener SaBzada Farhan and Fast Bowler Haris Rauf, whose arrival drew high cheer and heartfelt admiration from the crowd.
Fans said both players had “stolen their hearts” while the duo reacted warmly, shaking hands and engaged with supporters before training.
ICC Academy is just 1.2 kilometers from Dubai International Cricket Stadium, repeating himself with song from “O Shahzada …!” and “Farhan Bhai, once again …!” Meanwhile, Pashtun fans expanded their best wishes to Fakhar Zaman in Pashto and said “good luck.”
With High-Stak’s final just a day away, excitement among Pakistani fans in Dubai has reached a fever height as they eagerly wait for their favorite stars taking the pitch in Sunday’s historic showdown.
The green shirts created a final against India after lingering past Bangladesh with 11 races in a Super Fours meeting on September 25. The final will be the first time that the arch-rivals face each other in the history of the tournament.
The 2016 champions have beaten any resistance on their way before swinging into the final of the eight-team tournament.
Pakistan was defeated twice, first in the group play and then in Super Fours, by an India team that contained the world’s top-ranked dough and bowler in the T20 format in the opener Abhishek Sharma and Spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
The two sides lock horns in the ultimate game as tension remains increased because of the Indian Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s controversial actions during their group match on September 14.
Pundits called his decision to skip a usual handshake by the thrown and political statements in the interview after the fight “unprecedented” and “harmful to the spirit of the game.”
After a Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) complaint, the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally reprimanded his political remarks and advised him to refrain from such actions in the future.
Despite the charged environment, Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed his enthusiasm for the final against India. “The amount of pressure on both teams will be the same. We will try to give our best and win the final,” he said.
