Indian cricket has witnessed controversies one after another in the last few months. The center of the latest episode is now veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha. However, Saha has purportedly received a string of insulting WhatsApp messages from a journalist.

The 37-year-old was dropped for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. After that he took to Twitter on Saturday (February 19) and shared a screenshot of those messages, expressing disappointment over his treatment by a "so-called" journalist.

Also Read: Indian Cricket News: Has BCCI failed to manage Indian cricketers?

As per the latest developments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is calling for a "thorough investigation" on the matter to find out the culprit. It has been learned that the case won't be laid to the rest until "every single detail" on the interview Saha gave and the shared tweet is looked into. BCCI is also keen to know if any other cricketer has gone through such a crisis.

Here's Wriddhiman Saha's tweet:

Read Also: IND vs SL Test Squad: Rahane and Pujara's career hangs while Saha and Ishant's careers nearly are over

The BCCI wants to dig it deeper to find the journalist:

"Saha is a contracted cricketer of the BCCI. The onus is on the Board to not let its own player down. That aside, if there is any kind of a nexus at work here, one has to look into it."

a BCCI official said to the Times of India

Meanwhile, Saha, in his interview with ESPNCricinfo, suggested that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had assured him a place in the side.

"The biggest shock was that when I scored 61 against New Zealand in Kanpur despite being injured. Dadi (as BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is referred to), texted to congratulate me and said I didn't need to worry about anything till he is there. Naturally, I was shocked at what I was told immediately one series after."

Wriddhiman Saha said on Saturday

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Notably, several earlier reports have claimed Ganguly has been attending the selection meetings in the recent past. Hence, Saha's statement has ignited the controversy even further.

"What was the need for a BCCI official to speak with Saha and assure him of a place in the side? 'I don't need to worry till he's there. Kitni galat baat hai yeh (How wrong it is to say something like this)," officials added.

"First the Virat incident happened, then all this. And then he's (Saha) posts that tweet of the screenshot (of messages he received from a journalist). What the h*** is happening? The Board has to act because enough is enough," say those tracking developments.

The Indian Cricket team dominates the Asia Cup held every two years. Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Indian team has won this tournament the most number of times. The Asia Cup was established in 1983. A year later, in 1984, its first event was held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since then, this tournament has been played 16 times. During this period, the Indian team has become the champion for the most number of times, i.e. 8 times. The Men in Blue have shown their dominance in both ODI and T20I formats, consistently defeating top Asian teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Let’s take a closer look at India's performance in every Asia Cup edition.

Also Read: Asia Cup Winners List from 1984 to 2023

India's Performance in Every Asia Cup | Wins Year-wise

India won the inaugural Asia Cup in 1984 under Sunil Gavaskar’s captaincy. It won three consecutive titles in 1988, 1990-91, and 1995. India is also the only team to have won both ODI and T20I versions (6 ODI + 2 T20I) of the Asia Cup. In 2023, India bowled out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs and chased the target in 6.1 overs, one of the most one-sided Asia Cup finals ever.

India Won 8 Asia Cup Titles

The Indian team participating in the Asia Cup since it's inception and has performed exceptionally well in the tournament for many years. It has qualified for the finals of the tournament 11 times and has won the tournament 8 times during this period.

India had achieved a great victory in the first season of the tournament in 1984. After this they also achieved victory in the year 1988 and it achieved victory in the 1990-91 and 1995 seasons. The Indian team is the only team that has won the Asia Cup title for 3 consecutive seasons.

After this India also won tournament played in the year 2010 and in the tournaments of 2016 and 2018 also they won the final match brilliantly. India also won in the year 2023 hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

India Lost 3 Asia Cup Finals

The Indian team also faced defeat in 3 Asia Cup finals. They had to face a terrible defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the 1997 Asia Cup final. At the same time, it had to face defeat in the finals of 2004 and 2008 as well and all three times they had to face defeat against Sri Lanka.

India Also Won the Trophy in T20I Format Once

In the 2016 T20I Asia Cup, the Indian team played brilliantly and won the title. After this, when the tournament was hosted in the T20I formal again in 2022, India could not qualify for the top-4.

Also Read: Past results of India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup

India's Performance in Every Asia Cup | 1984-2023

In match number six of the Asia Cup 2025, the defending champions, Team India will take on arch-rival Pakistan in their Group A fixture. The match is scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While the reigning champions, who have their eyes set on record ninth title, are coming off a nine-wicket win over UAE.

On the other hand, Salman Ali Agha led Pakistan too registered a comfortable 93-run victory over Oman in their opening game. While this will be their first game in the continental showpiece event since 2023, it will also be there first in T20Is following India’s title triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados.

Here is everything you need to know before the India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025.

Also Read: Past results of India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup

Match Details

• Match: India vs Pakistan
• Tournament: Asia Cup 2025, 6th Match Group A
• Date: 14 September 2025
• Time: 8:00 PM IST
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

Streaming Details

The India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025 match 6 will be televised live on the Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 5 channels. For Hindi commentary, fans can watch the match on Sony Sports 3; Sony Sports 4 will provide Tamil and Telugu commentary.

The match will be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website in India.

India vs UAE: Head-to-head stats

India and Pakistan have played against each other 19 times in Asia Cup history. Out of these, India have won 10 games, while Pakistan have won just 6. In the Asia Cup T20 format, India and Pakistan have played 3 matches, of which the Men in Blue have won 2, while the Men in Green have won 1.

Pitch Report: Dubai International Cricket Stadium

The Dubai International Stadium pitch usually provides a fair battle between bat and ball. Pacers can expect some bounce and movement early on, while spinners are likely to come into play as the surface slows down later in the game.

The venue has witnessed average scores of 139 in the first innings and 121 in the second. Of the 112 T20Is played here, chasing sides have had a slight edge with 59 wins, compared to 52 victories for teams batting first.

Weather Report

According to weather reports, the temperature in Dubai is expected to reach 40°C on September 14, with a “RealFeel" of 45°C owing to humidity, wind, and strong sunshine.

Air quality is likely to remain in the “Unhealthy" category, while humidity levels are expected to hover around 38%.

Possible Lineups

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

Pakistan: Salman Agha (C), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (Wk), Hasan Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem.

Also Read: India vs Pakistan Head-to-head Stats in T20I

India vs Pakistan Match Prediction

Both teams started their tournament on a strong note. While India defeated the UAE by 9 wickets, Pakistan beat Oman by 93 runs.

Though traditionally celebrated for their pace bowling, Pakistan have pivoted to a spin-heavy strategy to suit the UAE’s conditions. Acknowledging the spin-friendly pitches, head coach Mike Hesson has chosen to focus on a bowling line-up dominated by spinners for this tournament.

Meanwhile, India boasts a star-studded line-up in both the batting and bowling departments. Top players in the squad include captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.

Whenever there is a match between India and Pakistan, the fans of both the countries get very excited and their enthusiasm is at its peak. Now both the teams will be seen playing in Asia Cup 2025, where there will be a great match between the two on September 14. 

So, before start of the much awaited match, let's have a look at the India vs Pakistan head-to-head stats in T20I cricket.

Also Read: Past results of India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup

India vs Pakistan Head-to-head in T20I

A total of 13 T20I matches have been played between India and Pakistan so far, out of which India has defeated neighboring Pakistan in 9 matches. Whereas Pakistan has won only three matches. One match between the teams ended in a tie. In such a situation, the Indian team has an upper hand over Pakistan in T20I cricket.

Both the teams last played in T20 World Cup 2024

The last T20I match between the two teams was played in the T20 World Cup 2024, in which the Indian team won by 6 runs. Jasprit Bumrah took 3 wickets for 14 runs in four overs and single-handedly won the match for the team.

India vs Pakistan Head-to-head in T20 World Cups

India and Pakistan came face-to-face in a T20I match in the group stage of the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa back in 2007. India boasts a 6-1 lead in ICC T20 World Cups, with the Pakistan cricket team’s only win coming in the 2021 edition in Dubai. 

India vs Pakistan in T20 Asia Cup

Till now only three matches have been played between India and Pakistan in the T20I Asia Cup tournament, out of which India has won two and Pakistan has won one match. In such a situation, India's dominance over Pakistan is intact in the T20 Asia Cup as well.

Also Read: Most Runs in India vs Pakistan Matches in Asia Cup (ODI+T20I)

India vs Pakistan T20I Match Results

The first-ever India vs Pakistan T20 match was a classic and is remembered as one of the most thrilling games in cricket history. Led by MS Dhoni, the Men in Blue went on to post a total of 141/9 with Robin Uthappa top-scoring after making 50 off 39 balls.

Chasing a target of 142, Pakistan needed 12 off the last over with Misbah-ul-Haq and all-rounder Yasir Arafat at the crease. Arafat picked up a single off the first ball of the final over to give the strike to Misbah-ul-Haq, who scored 10 from the next three deliveries.

With one needed off two, India’s S Sreesanth bowled a dot ball, taking the match down to the wire. The theatrics continued off the last ball as Misbah hit the ball towards cover only for Yuvraj Singh to pick it up and throw to the non-strikers end, where Sreesanth was present to whip off the bails as the match ended in a dramatic tie.

Asia Cup is the only tournament in the world that is based on competitions among the countries of one continent. India is the top performer as they have won 8 Asia Cups. Apart from this, India has also been in 11 finals out of 16 total Finals (India has participated in 15 editions though, skipping once).

Sri Lanka is the second most successful team in the Asia Cup after India. The Sri Lankan team won the Asia Cup 6 times and Pakistan took the cup home two times. Initially, it was a competition among three countries but later on, Asia Cup expanded to become a six-team tournament. They are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan.

Read Also: Best Bowling Figures in Asia Cup T20I

Asia Cup is one of the most popular cricket tournaments in Asia. It is conducted over a gap of two years by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The 16th edition just ended with India lifting the title after defeating Sri Lanka in the Final in Colombo. In 1984, the UAE hosted the first Asia Cup. India was the winner of this tournament and Sri Lanka was the runner-up.

In this article, we'll have a look at the winners' list of the Asia Cup from 1984 to 2023 along with a runner-up and hosting country.

Asia Cup 2023 Winner

The 2023 edition began on 30th August 2023 in Sri Lanka. The first match was played between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan and Pakistan won this match by 238 runs. The Winner of the 2023 edition was decided on 17th September 2023 when the two best teams of the tournament Sri Lanka and India played the final match. India became the winner of the 16th edition by defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets.

Also Read: Highest Run Scorer in Asia Cup History (ODI + T20)

Asia Cup Winners List

Asia Cup Winners List from 1984 to 2023 is on the table. The Winners List table contains the year, winner team, runner-up team, and hosting country.

Asia Cup Winners List- Country-wise

Team India won the Cup 8 times in 16 editions followed by Sri Lanka 6 times and Pakistan 2 times. The three remaining countries Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong have yet to open their account in the winners list. The country-wise list of the winners is here.

There has been an ongoing debate about whether the Indian Men’s Cricket team should compete in the Asia Cup 2025, particularly regarding matches against Pakistan. With both teams placed in the same group by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), India could potentially face Pakistan up to three times in the tournament.

What happened?

After the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year on 22 April, where 26 Indian civilians, mostly Hindus, were killed, the Indian government had decided to stop any kind of deals, businesses, and relationship with the neighbouring country. Although the government handled the situation in its own way, cricket fans across the nation wanted no India vs Pakistan games during any tournaments.

During the World Championship of Legends tournament Indian team did not play any games against the Pakistani team to protest against the terror attacks, largely supported by the Pakistani government. After that, fans were hoping for that same thing in the Asia Cup 2025 as well.

Read Also: Past results of India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

Different thoughts by fans

If Terror and Talks Can’t go Together then Terror and Cricket can’t go together. #BoycottAsiaCup #BoycottBCCI pic.twitter.com/sbPzjXOHMH

— BRADDY (@braddy_Codie05) July 26, 2025

Although many Indian cricket team fans wanted to boycott the Asia Cup to protest against the terror attacks in Pahalgam, many wanted to see the Indian men’s cricket team smashing the Pakistani team in the tournament to give them a taste of defeat on the cricket field as well.

Some argued that since this is not a bilateral series, India should compete in the International or continental events to hold their head high in the world arena. With the Indian government looking to host the Olympics, India needs to be very cautious to have a diplomatic face during this time.

Read Also: Most Runs in India vs Pakistan Matches in Asia Cup (ODI+T20I)

What did Anurag Thakur say on the India vs Pakistan match?

Anurag Thakur, the former Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs, and current B.J.P. MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, stated that participation in tournaments organised by ACC or ICC is a compulsion and a necessity for the BCCI.

Via a video by ANI on X, he said, "When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don't do that, they will be eliminated from the tournament, they will have to forfeit the match, and the other team will get the points...But India doesn't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan. We have made this decision for years that India won't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorist attacks on India."

#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: On the upcoming India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025, BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, "When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don't do that, they will be… pic.twitter.com/ybP4n9nCaJ

— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2025

What does the new sports bill say about the India vs Pakistan match?

As per the new Sports Bill, amended by the Indian government, India will not engage in any bilateral sports events with Pakistan. This includes competitions in India, Pakistan, or any neutral venues on a one-on-one basis.

However, the bill allows Indian teams and athletes to participate in multilateral or international events where Pakistan is also competing, such as the Asia Cup or ICC/ACC events. This aligns with the Olympic Charter, which mandates equal opportunity and non-discrimination in international sports competitions.

Moreover, Pakistani teams will not be allowed to compete on Indian soil for bilateral events, but can participate in multilateral tournaments hosted by India. Similarly, Indian teams will not travel to Pakistan for bilateral sports events.

Read Also: Best Bowling Figures in Asia Cup T20I

When is the India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025?

India will face Pakistan in the group A match of the Asia Cup 2025 on September 14, at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. The match will start at 8 pm IST.

How to watch the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match?

The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match will be streamed LIVE on the SonyLIV app and website. The match will also be televised on Sony Sports Network channels across India.