Asia Cup 2025: ‘If Indians are patriotic and want their team to win, the same goes for Pakistani fans’ – Wasim Akram

India and Pakistan will renew their rivalry on September 14 in Dubai, at the Asia Cup 2025’s premier event. This will be the second time the two countries meet in an international match this year. Their previous meeting was at the same location during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, when India won by six wickets in a group-stage match.

Tensions between the two nations have grown in recent months as a result of Indians Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror assault.

Against this backdrop, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has urged both teams and their fans to maintain discipline and keep the focus on cricket.

“I am sure these matches will be entertaining, just like all other Ind-Pak matches. But I hope both the players and the fans will remain disciplined and not cross the line. If Indians are patriotic and want their team to win, the same goes for Pakistani fans. India have been in better form recently and will start as favourites, but the team that handles pressure best on the day will win,” Akram told Telecom Asia Sport as quoted by India Today.

Last week, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India issued fresh guidelines outlining the country’s position on sporting relations with Pakistan. As per the directive, Indian teams will neither visit nor host Pakistan for bilateral series, but they will continue to compete against them in multi-nation tournaments where Pakistan is a participant. This decision has been taken to avoid a possible ban for India or risk of hosting rights loss for such global series.

In cricket, the two countries have not contested a bilateral series since 2012, when Pakistan toured India for a two-match T20I and a three-match ODI series. The visitors drew the T20I series 1-1 and clinched the ODI series 2-1. Since then, India and Pakistan have only met in ICC tournaments such as the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, as well as the Asia Cup.