India Avoids Interaction With Pakistan As Both Camps Begin Asia Cup 2025 Preparations In UAE

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Cric News India

September 8, 2025 0 139

IND PAK Interactions Are A No-Go Now In Asia Cup

India started their Asia Cup 2025 campaign build-up in the UAE with long training sessions under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

The Asia Cup 2025 is just days away, with teams already in the UAE to prepare for the continental event. The tournament begins on September 9 with Hong Kong facing Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. India will take the field the next day when they meet hosts UAE in Dubai.

The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on September 14 in Dubai is set to be the highlight of the group stage. This will be the arch-rivals’ first meeting in 2025, and the first since political tensions following the Pulwama attack disrupted relations. Despite initial uncertainty, the marquee fixture will go ahead as scheduled.

Meanwhile, Team India has begun preparations in Dubai. Under Gambhir’s guidance, the squad held two training sessions at the ICC Cricket Academy. According to ESPNcricinfo, the second practice lasted over three hours, with all specialist batters spending nearly an hour each in the middle.

Pakistan also continued their practice routine in the UAE, focusing on their upcoming tri-series final against Afghanistan. “Pakistan batted at the nets area tucked away in a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes. They prepped on surfaces that offered turn, bite and uneven bounce,” the report stated.

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India, on the other hand, also worked on their fitness. The players performed a bronco drill on Saturday evening. “The squad split into three groups of five. Trainer Adrian Le Roux called the shots, Sitanshu Kotak kept score, while head coach Gautam Gambhir turned cheerleader,” the report revealed.

The drill was aimed at preparing the players for the tough conditions. “The exercise wasn’t about results as much as it was about simulating match-day conditions if India field first in the heat,” it added.

After a rest day on Sunday, Suryakumar Yadav and his team are scheduled for two more training sessions before their campaign opener against UAE on September 10.