New Delhi: India and Pakistan rivalry is never just cricket as it holds added emotions and tonight in Dubai it will hold added value in history itself. The final of Asia Cup 2025 will mark their first ever decider between in two in the 41 year long history of the tournament. Despite India’s dominance in recent encounters, their record against Pakistan in tournament finals and that too especially in the UAE tells a different story.
Across 10 summit clashes till date, India have managed to win only three. The rest are the painful reminders of what happens when pressure meets destiny. The UAE, in particular, has been Pakistan’s fortress. Sharjah has witnessed heartbreak after heartbreak for Men In Blue from Miandad’s last-ball six in 1986 to a string of lopsided defeats through the ’90s.
As India gears up for their first-ever Asia Cup final meeting with Pakistan, one question looms large – can they finally break free from the curse that has haunted generations of fans?
1986 Austral-Asia Cup final
Javed Miandad’s mighty six off Chetan Sharma that sealed the deal for them in a thrilling one-wicket win. (Image via ‘X’)
This was the night that etched itself into cricketing folklore. India looked set to lift the trophy as Pakistan needed four runs off the last ball. Chetan Sharma, who under immense pressure, aimed for a yorker but ended up bowling a full toss. Javed Miandad who was playing at unbeaten on 116 launched it over midwicket for six and Pakistan won by one wicket.
That shot didn’t just win a final but it gave Pakistan psychological dominance for years to come. For India, it became a scar that refused to fade, the beginning of a long bitter tale in Sharjah.
1991 Wills Trophy
Five years later, India looked ready to avenge that heartbreak. Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar rocked Pakistan early, reducing them to 23/2 but Zahid Fazal and Saleem Malik changed the game with a mammoth 171-run partnership. Pakistan ended at 262/6.
India’s chase was nervy as wickets kept tumbling, partnerships failed to build and they folded for 190. A 72-run defeat stung even more because India started strong and later on lost control under pressure.
1994 Austral-Asia Cup
Pakistan posted 250/6 with half-centuries from Aamer Sohail and Basit Ali. India began disastrously as Ajay Jadeja went for a duck and the rest followed suit. Vinod Kambli fought back with a gritty 56 but it wasn’t enough. Men In Blue were bowled out for 211, losing by 39 runs.
By now, a pattern was clear that Pakistan thrived in Sharjah finals with India faltering every time when they came close, the pressure told.
1999 Coca-Cola Cup
Shoaib Akhtar celebrates a wicket against India in the Coca-Cola Cup at the Sharjah CA Stadium in UAE. (Image via Clive Mason /Allsport/Getty Images)
The last Sharjah final between the two was a nightmare for India. Mohammad Azharuddin’s men crumbled to 125 all out in 45 overs. Pakistan’s chase was calm and clinical as they won by seven wickets with 91 balls to spare.
For Indian fans, it wasn’t just a loss, rather it symbolised a mental block that in the UAE, Pakistan always had the upper hand when silverware was on the line.
Why 2025 Asia Cup final feels different
As we move fast forward to 2025, things have changed. India entered the Asia Cup final unbeaten, having beaten Pakistan twice already in this tournament. But the stakes tonight are different as this is another final in the UAE- a stage where India have never conquered Pakistan.
The old memories of Sharjah still linger as the last-ball heartbreaks, the batting collapses, the missed chances, all of it shapes the narrative heading into Dubai. Despite their inconsistent form Pakistan will draw confidence from history and even they have performed well in the last two Super four matches. India, on the other hand, have a shot at rewriting it and ending the UAE jinx but to accomplish that they will need to be in control and avoid sloppy fielding.
With Suryakumar Yadav’s men in form and the team showing composure under pressure, this may just be India’s moment to end decades of pain. Tonight, it’s not just about lifting a trophy rather it’s about lifting a burden that has lasted nearly 40 years.