India, Pakistan to face off in Asia Cup clash in Dubai

Dubai - The biennial tournament will begin September 15.

The Ring of Fire is gearing up for the biggest cricket clash in the UAE after 4,536 days when India and Pakistan clash on September 19 in the biennial Asia Cup in Dubai.
"Stadium preparations are in full swing for Asia Cup, be it venue operations or spectator experience, we are taking care of all the details," Khalid Al Zarooni , President, Dubai Sports City (DSC), told Khaleej Times. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host the India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, which will be held from Sept. 15-28. The arch cricketing rivals from the sub-continent last played a two-match ODI series in the UAE at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on April 18-19, 2006.
"The DSC management is excited and honoured to host the Asia Cup which puts UAE on the map for a yet another large scale international event. We have a very busy season of international cricket ahead of us and we are glad to host all the teams," added Al Zarooni
"This is the first time India and Pakistan will play in Dubai but we have seen so many of their exciting matches in the UAE for several years, especially in Sharjah," Zayed Abbas, the Emirates Cricket Board member and official spokesperson told Khaleej Times.
"It is a great opportunity for the fans in the UAE and full house is guaranteed for the exciting clash," he added.
"Dubai International Stadium has hosted several big matches during the past nine years, including IPL 2014. But yes, the India-Pakistan match is most awaited by all fans and hence will be one of the biggest match played at the stadium," Vijay Sajjanhar CFO, Dubai Sports City, told Khaleej Times.
"Arrangements at the stadium will be done at the highest level as required for any international match," Sajjanhar assured.
Any match between the two Asian cricketing giants attracts a lot of attention as the two don't play any bilateral cricket. Now, for the Asia Cup, scheduled to be played in the UAE, the two are drawn in the same group and could even clash for the title in the final. This year's Asia Cup was originally set to be held in India but was shifted to the UAE because of strained relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. The Cup reverts to its traditional 50-over ODI format this year after opting in 2016 for a Twenty20 competition, which India won.
 
Asia Cup 2018 full schedule

Group Stage
15 September - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Dubai)
16 September - Pakistan vs Qualifier (Dubai)
17 September - Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
18 September - India vs Qualifier (Dubai)
19 September - India vs Pakistan (Dubai)
20 September - Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Super Four
21 September - Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
21 September - Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
23 September - Group A Winner vs Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
23 September - Group B Winner vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
25 September - Group A Winner vs Group B Winner (Dubai)
26 September - Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Final
28 September - Asia Cup 2018 Final (Dubai)