When old rivals India and Pakistan face off in the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai, the tension in the stadium will be razor-sharp as the cricket clash comes four months after both countries stepped back from the brink of war.
The two teams play at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, their first cricket encounter since a four-day military conflict ended in a May ceasefire.
It was the biggest escalation in recent years with missiles and drone strikes by both sides in reaction to an April terrorist attack that killed 26 Indians in Pahalgam, Indian-controlled Kashmir. India accused Pakistan of being behind the assault, a charge Islamabad denies.
In the UAE, where citizens of both countries have worked and lived in peace for decades, cricket enthusiasts have called for sport to remain separate from politics.
Indian businessman Shyam Bhatia, among the thousands who will pack into the Dubai stadium, said the UAE was the perfect venue as emotions still ran high.
“There is a lot of talk going on in Dubai circles about whether India should be playing with Pakistan in these circumstances," said the steel industrialist famous for a cricket museum he has built in his Jumeirah home. "Many people say, 'No, we should not, it’s too soon.’ But I feel when there are international tournaments taking place, sports should not suffer."
Sold out matches
Cricket matches between the arch rivals are closely watched by millions around the world and Sunday’s game is no exception.
“There are high emotions after Pahalgam in April but this is a neutral country, fans will not hold back, they will cheer but they know to behave responsibly," he said.
“People do get emotionally carried away when India play Pakistan but, in the end, sport wins. It’s an exciting rivalry, both are great cricketing teams and you get the best out of the players."
Tickets are sold out for the India-Pakistan match, with many fans paying extra for match packages so they can be at Sunday’s game.
Kamran Latif has never missed watching a Pakistan ODI (one day international), Test or T-20 match since the team began hosting its international games in the UAE from 2009.
This time, with tickets sold out, the diehard fan will purchase a three-day pass to ensure he is in the stadium to cheer his team on Sunday.
“What happened in Pahalgam is condemnable, we don’t want war, people from both countries love each other,” said Mr Latif, who works for a UAE food company.
“There must be cricket diplomacy and we should play more matches. I will watch the game at any cost in the stadium.”
Despite the rivalry, he said Indian and Pakistani fans remain peaceful while shouting support for their team in UAE stadiums. Mr Latif was among fans who witnessed unruly scenes in the stands in a Pakistan-Afghanistan match in the 2022 Asia Cup in Sharjah where seats were ripped out and hurled at opposing fans.
“Now there are separate enclosures for fans for Pakistan Afghanistan matches so there is no trouble and that is sad,” he said. “I give 100 per cent credit to India-Pakistan fans because we have had so many tensions on the border but in the stadium we stand together, cheer for our own teams and we don’t fight.”
Each side firmly backs their own national team while respecting the rival’s cricketing strength.
Mr Latif describes pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and spin bowler Varun Chakravarthy as India’s trump cards after the retirement of legendary batsman Virat Kohli.
“When India and Pakistan play, it’s always more than a cricket match because there is so much expectation from fans, media, from political viewers. But we always enjoy the game. Virat Kohli is my favourite, he will be missed and that’s why I think Pakistan will win because Virat usually won games for India. Still, Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy are India’s X-factor.”
‘We will win’
Farooq Shah, a social media content creator better known as Chacha or Uncle Pakistani on TikTok, bought match tickets for several friends flying in for the game.
“I have many friends coming in from Pakistan and Africa for the game,” said Mr Shah, who sports a green and gold top hat at all games.
“We feel truly sorry about what happened in Pahalgam but Pakistani people can’t be blamed. I really believe sport can erase differences. The Pakistani and Indian cricket crowds in the UAE are the best. There has never been a fight inside the stadium.”
Indian fans too spoke of good-natured ribbing with groups shouting over each other to support their team.
“We will never forget Pahalgam but, yes, we should play Pakistan and, yes, we will win. A game is a game and politics must be kept separate,” said Sara Shrawan, a Dubai resident who runs an event management company.
“In the stadium, fans tease each other but that’s it, there is no bullying or aggressive behaviour. UAE’s laws are strict and we respect it so people just enjoy the game. But winning is important and we will not hold back our cheers.”
The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800
Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed CVT
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Two-step truce
The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National.
The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.
The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.
The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Disturbing%20facts%20and%20figures
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Book%20Details
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EClara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPatrick%20Rogers%2C%20Lee%20McMahon%2C%20Arthur%20Guest%2C%20Ahmed%20Arif%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegalTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%20of%20seed%20financing%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20Techstars%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20OTF%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Knuru%20Capital%2C%20Plug%20and%20Play%20and%20The%20LegalTech%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
