India and Bangladesh have two points each with Suryakumar Yadav's men leading the standings owing to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots respectively.
Shaheen Shah Afridi steered clear of giving a direct response to Suryakumar Yadav's view that Indo-Pak games should not be considered a rivalry.
With his record-shattering spell, he also the became third Pakistani bowler to achieve 100 T20I wickets, behind Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan.
Pakistan scored 182 runs and Tom Latham's side fell well short of their target despite a hat-trick from Matt Henry, with Haris Rauf claiming four wickets for 18 runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 94, with more than four overs remaining.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar Azam has been asked to improve certain aspects of his game.
As India gear up for the T20 World Cup at home, the selectors have backed a squad built on impact, and versatility.
Advertisers will pay 18 lakh to 25 lakh per 10 seconds, a 10% to 20% increase over the last Asia Cup final.
Pakistan are currently in the second spot with two points, ahead of UAE (2 points) on net run rate.
I didn't like the way Pakistan players coming at us for no reason: Abhishek on aggressive batting
With stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sidelined, it will be a test of character for the Salman Agha-led Pakistan side.
A fiery century by Hasan Nawaz and top-class performances from pacers helped Pakistan keep the series alive
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has said that the scalp of Martin Guptill was his favourite among the four wickets he took against New Zealand in the Super 12's match of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The India-Pakistan tensions have had no impact on the bonhomie within the UAE cricket team, which is a mix of expatriates from the two countries, insisted skipper Muhammad Waseem.
The ICC, which punishes slow over rates and dissent, must protect cricket's core values. Pretending to be violent in front of millions sets a bad example for young fans. Cricket deserves better. Fans deserve better. The world deserves better than seeing the sport used for such shameful displays.
Rauf said had Hardik Pandya or Dinesh Karthik hit him like that, he would have felt 'hurt'.
This is the first-ever India vs Pakistan final across 17 editions of the Men's Asia Cup since the tournament's inception in 1984.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of Asia Cup 2025.
Gill's highest score in the three Asia Cup matches has been an unbeaten 20 with the Test skipper failing to click in the games against Pakistan and Oman after a fruitful red-ball away series against England.
Shaheen Afridi also missed the last two Tests against England in October.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf is banking on his knowledge gained from the Australian Big Bash League to outsmart Indian batters when the two arch-rivals clash in the T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.
Pakistan retain playing XI for clash against India
Pakistan now face a must-win encounter against India to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy.
The 'Umpire's Call' handed South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi the much-needed lifeline by the barest of margins, which somewhat proved to be the decisive factor in the World Cup encounter against Pakistan in Chennai on Friday.
'The way Abhishek and Shubman bat, it is like fire and ice.'
Winning the Asia Cup was the "best reply" to an aggressive opposition, middle-order batter Tilak Varma said.
The final ODI will be played in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
The Pakistan cricket team left for Dubai for the marquee Champions Trophy clash against arch-rivals India without opener Fakhar Zaman, who suffered an injury during the opening match against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. The left-handed batter has been replaced by Imam-ul-Haq in Pakistan's squad.
'There was no need for him to interfere with the progress of the ball.'
Pakistan and Bangladesh will face off in a dead rubber match in the Champions Trophy on Thursday, both teams looking to salvage some pride after disappointing tournament performances. Both teams have suffered heavy defeats to New Zealand.
India enjoy a dominant 9-3 win loss record against Pakistan in T20 Internationals, including a 7-1 margin in T20 World Cups.
Pakistan were always struggling to keep up the required run rate despite captain Mohamed Rizwan batting through to the last over before being dismissed for 74.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy Group A match played between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli's masterclass against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in 2022 has been voted the T20 World Cup FanCraze Greatest Moment.
India, for all their internal debates and external expectations, look like the one side that has clarity of purpose. And clarity, in high-pressure tournaments, often counts for more than raw talent.
Babar Azam is set to return as Pakistan skipper for their home series against New Zealand, starting April 14.
Shahnawaz Dahani and Zaman Khan will come into the Asia Cup squad but no decision had been made yet regarding Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed has expressed his confidence in the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, saying they will deliver something special in the must-win Champions Trophy clash against India. Despite the absence of Fakhar Zaman, who was ruled out due to an injury, Javed believes the team is well-equipped to handle the pressure and has the potential to overcome the challenge.
Haris Rauf bowled a couple of hostile spells, while Imam-ul-Haq struck a silken 78 as Pakistan secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a Super Four clash of the Asia Cup, in Lahore on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delayed the announcement of its World Cup squad until late May due to fitness and performance issues with some players.
'As players, you need to stay calm, try and block that noise out, and just play with the same intensity as you would play Australia or any other team.'
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