First meet in Dubai: India and Pakistan share a training day before the big one

With the Asia Cup only days away, India and Pakistan found themselves at the same venue for the first time this tour. Both teams trained at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday, a small moment that felt big because of what’s coming on September 14. The sessions overlapped, the buzz was real, and yet the players kept to their own routines. No handshakes, no small talk—just cricket, drills, and a long week ahead.

What we saw at training

India’s second full session in Dubai ran long, stretching past the three-hour mark. Specialist batters hit in cycles for around an hour each, mixing range-hitting with middle practice, while the bowlers split spells between powerplay lines and death-overs plans. Fielding drills were sharp, with plenty of work under lights to match the evening starts in the UAE. Pakistan came through later for their own hit-out before a tri-series final, kept their rhythm, and moved on—two teams, same ground, no fuss.

Why this week feels different

This meeting arrives with more context than usual. The tournament is in the UAE, the fixtures are tight, and the India–Pakistan game lands under lights in Dubai. There has been noise off the field, but the schedule stands and both sides look locked in on cricket. If results fall a certain way, they could even cross paths again in the Super Four—and, possibly, the final.

Group-stage dates to note

What to watch next

Expect India to keep polishing the top-order tempo and middle-overs plans under lights. Pakistan’s focus should be early swing and a spin squeeze through the middle, which usually travels well in these conditions. The noise around the rivalry won’t fade, but this week is about sessions, recovery, and role clarity—so when September 14 arrives, it’s bat vs ball, not story vs story.