Dubai: Pakistan will kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against Oman in the fourth match of the tournament, scheduled for Friday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The contest is seen as a key opportunity for Pakistan to fine-tune their game before facing arch rivals India on September 14.
Coming into the tournament on the back of a triumphant United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series 2025 campaign, Pakistan enters as overwhelming favourites.
Led by Salman Agha, the team has lost just once in their last six T20 outings, showcasing strength and depth in both batting and bowling. The Oman clash presents a chance for the Pakistanis to build confidence and maintain momentum ahead of the marquee India encounter.
The team’s batting lineup boasts a blend of youth and experience. Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan are expected to provide an aggressive start, while middle-order stalwarts Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha will aim to anchor the innings.
Depth in the lower order, with Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Harris, Mohammad Nawaz, and Faheem Ashraf, provides the team flexibility to accelerate in the final overs.
Pakistan’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, remains a potent weapon. Afridi’s pace, coupled with the support of Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem, gives Pakistan a well-rounded attack capable of exploiting the Dubai conditions.
The pitch, traditionally flat with a fast outfield, favours batsmen, though spinners are expected to play a crucial role in controlling the middle overs.
Oman, struggling with six consecutive T20 defeats, faces a tough challenge. Captain Jatinder Singh will look to his top-order batsmen, Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza, to provide stability, while the middle and lower order, including Ashish Odedara, Vinayak Shukla, and Hassnain Shah, must step up to support the team’s cause.
Oman’s bowling unit, led by Shakeel Ahmed and Mohammad Imran, will be tested against a deep and confident Pakistan lineup.
Historically, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has favoured teams chasing totals, with eight of the last ten T20 games won by the side batting second. First-innings scores typically average around 170, with 190 being a competitive total.
Analysts expect Pakistan to assert dominance in the contest and gain a significant psychological edge heading into their high-profile match against India.
Predicted Playing XI:
Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed
Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Sufyan Mehmood, Shakeel Ahmed, Mohammad Imran, Samay Shrivastava, Ashish Odedara, Mohammad Nadeem, Hassnain Shah
