The buzz is real, and the excitement is off the charts as India and Pakistan prepare to lock horns in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai.

The ICC Academy, where the Indian team held their practice session, turned into a frenzy as security guards struggled to hold back hundreds of eager fans, desperate for a glimpse of their favourite cricketers. With just hours to go before the highly anticipated clash, ticket holders, access ID carriers, and even security personnel were bombarded with requests for that pass to the big match.

Few Lucky Fans Get a Helping Hand

The demand for tickets has skyrocketed, given Dubai’s massive Indian and Pakistani communities. But there’s a catch — the cheapest seat in the 30,000-capacity stadium is said to cost a whopping Dh500.

For many blue-collar workers, attending the game seemed impossible — until Indian businessman Anis Sajan, vice-chairman of the Danube Group, stepped in as an unexpected hero. He held a lucky draw and gifted 100 tickets to his employees. For those who missing out, he has set up a special screening for them.

Said Sajan: “Many of these workers are die-hard fans, but high ticket prices keep them from watching their idols live. This is my way of making their dream come true.”

And he’s not the only one. Some other employers too have gifted match tickets.

Cricket Mania Grips the City

Dubai’s cricket fever has reached new heights. Malls are dealing with staff shortages as leave applications have poured in, and a popular cinema chain has arranged live screenings for those unable to secure stadium seats.

Security measures will be tight, with roads leading to the Dubai International Stadium set to close from 10:30 am ahead of the match start. The venue will be packed, and fans are hoping for a classic clash.

A Rivalry Like No Other

The anticipation is palpable, but there’s no interaction between the two teams ahead of the game. While India practised at the ICC Academy, Pakistan trained at the Dubai Stadium. Even fan groups are keeping their celebrations separate to avoid any tensions.

Ahead of the match, India’s in-form batter Shubman Gill was asked whether the hype around India-Pakistan clashes is overblown. His response? “India-Pakistan has a long history. It’s always an exciting contest. If so many people love watching it, who are we to say if it’s overhyped or not? We’re here to play cricket.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Aaqib Javed also acknowledged the pressure. “Every game has pressure, but against India, it doesn’t matter if it’s a must-win or not—our players are ready to raise the bar.”

Legendary Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar believes his team must step up. “Playing India in Dubai is different. 

They have all bases covered,” he admitted. Still, he remains hopeful: “We’ve beaten India twice here. We’ll aim for a third. It’ll be a great match.”

Despite missing ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and having an out-of-form Virat Kohli, India enters the contest as favourites. But as history has shown, anything can happen in an India-Pakistan match.

One thing’s for sure — come match day, Dubai will witness cricket at its most electrifying. Buckle up, because this one’s going to be special, and fingers crossed that rain doesn’t play spoilsport.

Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

What time will the match start:

The match will begin at 1:00 pm (UAE time). Toss is scheduled for 12:30 pm.

Where is the match being played?

The India vs Pakistan, Group A match will be played at the Dubai International Stadium.

Which channels will broadcast the match?

• Star Sports Network and Network 18 channels in India.
• Tamasha and PTV Sports will stream the matches live in Pakistan
• You can watch live streaming on Willow in the US.
• Sky Sports Cricket in the UK
•  Prime Video in Australia

(Source: Agencies)

India begins its ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on Thursday, February 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, marking the start of their quest for a third title. With high expectations surrounding Rohit Sharma’s team, millions of cricket fans worldwide will be tuning in to follow the action live.

For the first time, an ICC tournament will be streamed across 16 feeds, covering nine languages, ensuring wider accessibility for viewers.

Where to watch

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar is offering free live streaming with multi-cam feeds and an innovative MaxView vertical format, optimised for mobile viewing. It will also be streamed live on Fubo TV in the USA.
• TV Broadcast: Star Sports and Sports18 will provide live coverage in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
• Radio Commentary: Live audio coverage will be available on All India Radio.

Broadcast schedule (UAE time)

• February 20, Thursday – India vs Bangladesh – 1:00 pm
• February 23, Sunday – India vs Pakistan – 1:00 pm
• March 2, Sunday – India vs New Zealand – 1:00 pm
• March 4, Tuesday – Semi-final 1 (if India qualifies) – 1:00 pm
• March 9, Sunday – Final (if India qualifies) – 1:00 pm
• 
  With India placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, a strong start will be crucial for their campaign. The tournament is set to draw significant global viewership, with Dubai hosting all of India’s group-stage fixtures.

(Inputs from India.com)

India will play Bangladesh in their opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy on Wednesday, February 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Men in Blue are a confident side after thrashing England in the recent ODI series. This epic showdown has fans buzzing, but before the coin is tossed, all eyes are also on Dubai’s weather, no one wants unexpected showers to ruin the fun.

While Dubai is looking mostly sunny today, with temperatures around 22°C (72°F). The weather forecast suggests some cloud cover and maybe a bit of mist, and there is always the odd chance of rains. That said, Dubai’s weather can be a bit unpredictable, as there was some rain a couple of days ago, so fingers crossed it stays dry.

According to the UAE National Metrology Center, the weather across the country could fluctuate over the next few days, with fog, cloud cover, and occasional showers possible until Feb 24. But for now, things are looking good for cricket action at the Dubai International Stadium.

India kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with Rohit Sharma leading the squad, they’ll be hoping for a strong start in Group A, where they’re up against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Given India’s solid history in this tournament, expectations are high!

So, unless Dubai decides to surprise us with a downpour, expect some exciting cricket action today. Stay tuned for updates!

Squads for today’s game:
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Bangladesh: Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, MD Mahmud Ullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Vice-Captain), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.