The Asia Cup 2025 has officially begun, but for millions of cricket fans across South Asia, the real excitement starts on Sunday, when arch-rivals Pakistan and India face off in Dubai. Despite decades of political tensions, the Indo-Pak cricket rivalry remains the biggest attraction in world cricket, driving record-breaking revenues and global viewership.
According to Al Jazeera, any match between Pakistan and India is considered a financial cornerstone for organizers, ensuring packed stadiums and massive TV ratings. Even though political ties remain frozen, both nations continue to clash at international events such as the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments, making their matches unmissable.
Politics Overshadowing Cricket
Relations between Pakistan and India have remained strained since their clashes earlier this year. Yet, cricket boards and organizers set aside these differences to ensure both nations face off multiple times in tournaments. Reports from Dawn News highlight that despite bilateral series being suspended for over a decade, cricket councils have repeatedly designed tournament formats to guarantee at least one Pakistan-India encounter.
The Indus Waters Treaty dispute and border tensions continue to influence sports, but cricket fans on both sides still eagerly await these iconic matches.
The Business Behind the Rivalry
As noted by ESPN Cricinfo, India-Pakistan fixtures generate billions of minutes of watch time. The 2023 World Cup clash broke global viewership records, and Asia Cup 2025 is expected to surpass them. Sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and merchandise sales all peak during these matches, making them the most profitable fixtures in cricket history.
Former ICC officials admit that tournament schedules have often been designed to ensure India and Pakistan face each other more than once, boosting both revenue and audience engagement.
Fans Divided, But Excited
While fans from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan often feel overshadowed by the hype around India-Pakistan matches, most accept that this rivalry keeps the Asia Cup relevant and commercially successful.
Sri Lanka, the second-most successful Asia Cup team, continues to fight for its own recognition, but even their players admit that India vs Pakistan remains cricket’s biggest draw.
Conclusion
The Asia Cup 2025 isn’t just about cricket—it’s about politics, profit, and pride. With potential for Pakistan and India to meet up to three times between September 14–21, fans around the globe are preparing for high-voltage encounters that will define the tournament.
For more details on live updates and coverage, follow Geo Super and ESPN Cricinfo throughout the Asia Cup.
