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Ifs and buts of India-Pak final in Asia Cup Cricket
The two top-placed teams will meet in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 24, Sep 2025
- 00:46 EDT
- 19
Representative Image / AI generated
Notwithstanding their intense rivalry on and off the field, cricket fans in both India and Pakistan are closely watching the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025 to see if the arch rivals can face each other in the final. After Pakistan’s five-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday (September 23), the tournament has opened up with several possible outcomes, leaving fans and analysts working out the permutations and combinations.
With that result, Pakistan have 2 points from 2 matches in the Super 4 stage, the same as India and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka, after back-to-back defeats, are already out of contention. At the moment, India lead the table with the best net run rate (+0.689), followed by Pakistan (+0.226) and Bangladesh (+0.121).
Here are the qualification scenarios:
Current Super 4 Table (after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka, Sept 23)
· India – 2 points, NRR +0.689 (2 matches left)
· Pakistan – 2 points, NRR +0.226 (1 match left)
· Bangladesh – 2 points, NRR +0.121 (2 matches left)
· Sri Lanka – 0 points, eliminated
Qualification Scenarios
For India
· Need just 1 win (vs Bangladesh on Sept 24 or vs Sri Lanka on Sept 26) to seal a final spot.
· Even with 1 loss, their superior NRR gives them a strong advantage.
· If they lose both matches, qualification depends on NRR against Pakistan/Sri Lanka.
For Pakistan
· Must beat Bangladesh (Sept 25) → Will qualify with 4 points.
· If they lose to Bangladesh → Out, because Bangladesh go to 4 points.
Complicated Multi-Team Scenarios
1. All on 4 points – If India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh all end with 4 points → Net Run Rate decides finalists.
2. India lose both & Pakistan lose to Bangladesh → Bangladesh qualify with 4 points, and the second finalist (India vs Pakistan vs Sri Lanka) will be decided by NRR (all stuck on 2).
Most Likely Final:
· India vs Pakistan
o Condition:
- India win at least 1 of their last 2 matches
- Pakistan beat Bangladesh
If Pakistan lose to Bangladesh → final will most likely be India vs Bangladesh.
The Super 4 stage resumes on Wednesday (September 24) with India taking on Bangladesh. Pakistan will face Bangladesh on Thursday, followed by India’s final clash against Sri Lanka on Friday. The two top-placed teams will meet in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday.
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