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New Delhi: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has made a bold claim ahead of his side’s clash against arch-rivals India in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Rauf has predicted that Pakistan will win both their matches against India in the tournament. The Asia Cup 2025 is set to get underway in the UAE on September 09. India will lock horns with Pakistan in Dubai on September 14.

India will take on Pakistan in the group stage of the tournament on September 14, before potentially meeting their arch-rivals in the Super 4 stage. Both teams will meet in the Super 4 if they qualify for the same. India and Pakistan can also meet in the final if they manage to make it to the summit clash. India are the defending champions and will enter the tournament as favourites.

Ahead of the much-awaited clash, a video clip of Pakistan pacer Rauf’s chat with a fan has gone viral on social media. In the clip, the fan can be heard asking Rauf about Pakistan’s upcoming matches against India in the Asia Cup 2025.

“Dono apne hai, Inshallah (Both matches are ours, God willing),” replies the cricketer, suggesting that Pakistan will win both their matches against India in the tournament.

While the blockbuster clash seems likely to go ahead as per schedule, there has been massive outrage across the country over the Indian government and the BCCI’s decision to allow the Indian team to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. Many have slammed the government and the Indian cricket board for allowing the clash to happen at a time when tensions between the two countries are at an all-time high.

Many have also questioned the government and BCCI’s stance over the match, which is taking place just months after the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people lost their lives. The government has also been criticised for allowing the Indian cricket team to play Pakistan despite miantianing that Operation Sindoor is still on.

India have a dominant record against Pakistan in T20Is, having won 10 out of 13 matches against their rivals in the shortest format. India and Pakistan last met in a T20I encounter in the T20 World Cup 2024 last year, where India clinched a thriller. In the last edition of the Asia Cup in 2023, India thrashed Pakistan by 227 runs after their group-stage match was washed out due to rain.