The Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 kicks off for Pakistan and Oman with a match in Dubai that’s expected to be one-sided.
While Pakistan comes in as strong contenders, Oman is making their Asia Cup debut and will face a major challenge right from the start.
Pakistan enters this match with confidence after winning a recent tri-series featuring Afghanistan and the UAE.
Though their top order didn’t dominate, the bowling unit was in top form. Their win over Afghanistan in the final was a big boost ahead of this tournament.
This match will act as a warm-up before their blockbuster clash against India on Sunday.
Expect Pakistan to treat this game seriously while also testing key player combinations.
Oman’s journey hasn’t been smooth. They dealt with a pay dispute earlier in the year, which caused many senior players to walk away.
Read More: Asia Cup: India defeats UAE by 9 wickets with ease
As a result, over half of their Asia Cup squad is new, and the team hasn’t played T20Is since February 2025, when they lost 3–0 to the USA.
Lack of recent match practice and team chemistry may make this a difficult outing against an experienced Pakistan side.
Stats:
· Pakistan s last 5 T20Is: WWLWW
· Oman’s last 5 T20Is: LLLLL
· Pakistan has lost 4 of their last 5 T20Is in Dubai. Their only win was against India in the 2022 Asia Cup.
· Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan): 20 wickets in 11 T20Is this year
· Haider Ali (UAE): 22 wickets in 14 T20Is, economy rate of 5.54 (best in 2025)
Pitch & Weather Report:
- Venue: Dubai International Stadium
- Pitch: Expected to assist spin bowling
- Weather: Hot, around 35°C, no rain expected
This is expected to be a one-sided match on paper. Pakistan has the experience, form, and depth, while Oman is rebuilding with a fresh squad after internal issues.
But Pakistan knows better than to take any game lightly; they were shocked by the USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup right before facing India.
If Pakistan wants to avoid history repeating itself, they’ll use this match to settle nerves, fine-tune combinations, and avoid unnecessary risk.
Oman, on the other hand, has nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous in short bursts.
This match isn’t just about two points. It’s a test of focus for Pakistan and a chance to dream for Oman.
