Pakistan will take on Oman in their first Group A match of the Asia Cup 2025 on Friday. The team hopes to sharpen its game ahead of the much-anticipated showdown with arch-rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan enters the tournament with high confidence, having won the T20 Tri-Series earlier this month. In the final, they defeated Afghanistan by 75 runs in a commanding performance. Mohammad Nawaz starred with a hat-trick, sealing a comprehensive victory in the competition that also featured the UAE.

Currently ranked eighth in the world, Pakistan views this opening match as a chance to gain experience before facing India.

Spin Strategy for Slow UAE Pitches

The slow and sluggish pitches in the UAE have prompted Pakistan to rely on spinners for this tournament. This move proved successful during the Tri-Series and will remain key to their plans in the Asia Cup.

“We wanted to prepare in a way that helps us for the Asia Cup and we’ve done that,” said Pakistan captain Salman Agha.

He added, “We’ve been doing really well since the Bangladesh series at home. Now, we’re in very good shape and fully prepared.”

Group A features India, Pakistan, Oman, and UAE. Only the top two teams will progress to the next round.

With a high-stakes game against India looming, Pakistan will aim for a clinical performance against Oman. This match offers them a vital opportunity to fine-tune their strategy, build confidence, and adapt to UAE’s challenging conditions before the marquee clash on Sunday.

Weather Report

Dubai will experience typical desert weather on match day. Daytime temperatures could reach 39°C, creating tough playing conditions. Although the temperature may drop slightly in the evening, it will remain extremely hot, testing players’ fitness and stamina.

Pitch Report

The pitch at Dubai remains difficult to read. During India’s opening match against the UAE, the surface appeared challenging for batters when India bowled. However, when India batted, it seemed flat and easier to play shots.

This variation has left teams uncertain about how the pitch will behave during the upcoming games.

Squads

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.

Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammed Nadeem, Hammad Mirza, Aamir Kaleem, Sufyan Mehmood, Ashish Odedra, Shakeel Ahmad, Aryan Bisht, Samay Shrivastava, Karan Sonavale, Hassnain Ali Shah, Muhammed Imran, Sufyan Yousaf, Nadeem Khan, Zikriya Islam, Faisal Shah.