Cricket’s most anticipated rivalry returns to the Asia Cup stage as India and Pakistan prepare to lock horns on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In a significant development, according to the reports of Gaurav Gupta from Times of India, Asian Cricket Council will announce an experienced panel of match officials to oversee this high-voltage Group A clash, ensuring the smooth conduct of one of cricket’s most watched encounters.
India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 high stakes showdown
India and Pakistan renew their storied rivalry on September 14 in Dubai, after India’s opener against the UAE and Pakistan’s clash with Hong Kong. India’s batting will rely on captain Suryakumar Yadav for being the king pin of the team, supported by emerging talents like Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma. Pakistan, without will turn to Haris Rauf to lead their pace attack and Salman Agha to guide a new Pakistan line-up. Dubai’s flat track favours batter, though evening dew may assist bowlers. With India leading Asia Cup meetings 10–6, both sides will vie for early momentum in Group A. Expect a fiercely competitive encounter filled with high stakes and thrilling moments. If both teams persist as the two biggest teams of the tournament, then the rivals will face each other four times in the tournament.
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Here’s a complete match officials panel for the IND vs PAK group clash
The officiating team for the India-Pakistan showdown features seasoned professionals from across the cricketing world:
On-field Umpires: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka) and Masudur Rahman (Bangladesh)
TV Umpire: Ahmad Pakteen (Afghanistan)
Fourth Umpire: Izatullah Safi (Afghanistan)
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
This selection adheres to the ICC’s principle of appointing neutral officials for high-profile encounters, ensuring independence from the participating nations while bringing together officials with extensive big-match experience.
Experienced campaigners at the helm
Ruchira Palliyaguruge leads the officiating team with remarkable credentials. The 57-year-old Sri Lankan has officiated over 160 international matches, including more than 100 ODIs, for which he was felicitated by Sri Lanka Cricket in July 2025. His distinguished career includes standing in the 2015 and 2019 Cricket World Cups and the 2016 Asia Cup final.
Masudur Rahman, the experienced Bangladeshi umpire, brings valuable continental tournament expertise having officiated the 2022 Asia Cup final in Dubai. With over 70 international matches under his belt across men’s and women’s cricket, Rahman has established himself as one of the region’s most reliable officials.
The appointment of these veteran umpires reflects the tournament organizers’ emphasis on selecting officials capable of handling the intense pressure that accompanies India-Pakistan encounters. Their combined experience in major tournaments makes them ideal choices for this continental showdown.
TV Umpire Ahmad Pakteen represents Afghanistan’s growing influence in cricket officiating, having become the first Afghan to stand in Test cricket as an on-field umpire in 2021. Match Referee Andy Pycroft brings unparalleled experience, recently achieving the milestone of officiating 100 Test matches as a referee.
