India and Pakistan Women’s Teams Set to Clash in Asia Cup Dubai on September 5

The Women’s T20 Asia Cup will feature a highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan on September 5 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who led her team to victory in last year’s ODI World Cup, expressed readiness for the intense encounter against their arch-rivals.

Kaur acknowledged the unique pressure surrounding India-Pakistan matches, noting that such games carry a level of intensity not found elsewhere in international cricket. She highlighted the challenge of managing this pressure while focusing on performance.

The upcoming match comes after a controversial episode during last year’s Men’s Asia Cup held at the same venue, where the Indian team declined to shake hands with Pakistani players following a military standoff between the two nations in 2025. This incident overshadowed the tournament, despite India winning the title by defeating Pakistan in the final.

Similarly, during the 2026 T20 World Cup, India’s women’s team also refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan after a match they won by 64 runs. As the Asia Cup begins, attention will likely return to whether the teams maintain this unofficial no-handshake stance.

On the cricketing front, India aims to reclaim the Asia Cup title after losing the 2024 final to Sri Lanka. The team arrives in Dubai in strong form, having recently secured a historic Test victory against England at Lord’s, marking the first women’s Test match at the iconic ground.

Kaur emphasized the team’s recent successes and winning mindset, stating, "The last 4-5 years have been good, and where we have played good cricket, dominating cricket, have defeated big sides and won series also." She added that the squad is motivated and eager to continue their winning streak.

The Indian team is grouped with Pakistan, Thailand, and Hong Kong in Group A. Their campaign will begin against Thailand on August 30. Group B includes defending champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the host nation UAE. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

Looking ahead, Kaur described the Asia Cup as crucial preparation for the Asian Games scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Japan. India will aim to secure their second consecutive gold medal in women’s cricket, having won the previous edition three years ago.

Regarding the Asian Games, Kaur remarked on the heightened motivation that comes with competing for medals and acknowledged the pressure to perform well. She stressed the importance of focusing on the task at hand to achieve success for the country.