India Vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: Ticket Sales Lag Despite Price Cuts
The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan, scheduled for this Sunday in Dubai, is experiencing surprisingly slow ticket sales. Despite the hype, nearly half of the tickets for the Group A clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium remain unsold, prompting organizers to slash prices.
Organizers Reduce Ticket Prices
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has reportedly reduced prices in an attempt to fill seats for the blockbuster match. Standard tickets have been lowered from 475 dirhams (approximately INR 11420) to 350 dirhams (approximately INR 8415). The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), however, disputes claims of sluggish sales.
"The signs are very encouraging. There is no truth to the claim that tickets are not getting sold," an ECB source told The Times of India.
Contrast With Champions Trophy Sales
This situation contrasts sharply with the Champions Trophy earlier in 2025, where an India-Pakistan match at the same venue sold out in just four minutes. This time, however, with ticket prices ranging from USD 99 for standard seats to USD 4,534 (nearly INR 4 lakh) for premium seats, nearly 50% of seats remain available after more than 10 days of sales.
Potential Reasons for Low Ticket Sales
Several factors may be contributing to the lukewarm response. In addition to high ticket prices, calls for boycotting the game could be playing a role. The match is taking place shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). BCCI is facing criticism for proceeding with the match, with figures like Harbhajan Singh suggesting a suspension of cricket ties until diplomatic relations improve.
Pakistan Set for Clash Against Unfamiliar Oman
Pakistan is preparing to face Oman in their opening match of the Asia Cup 2025 this Friday in Dubai. While Pakistan is a two-time champion, Oman is considered a significantly weaker opponent, with many new and untested players.
Oman's Revamped Team
Oman's team has undergone a complete overhaul in the last two years due to a pay dispute with its cricket board. Many established players who helped Oman qualify for the Asia Cup have been replaced by newcomers, some without even basic profiles on cricket websites like ESPNcricinfo.
- Several established Oman players have been ousted due to pay disputes.
- Many replacements are new and untested, lacking significant cricket profiles.
- Oman has had limited recent competitive T20I matches.
Pakistan's Strength and Dominance
Pakistan recently demonstrated its strength by defeating Afghanistan in the final of a tri-nation tournament. Even without star players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, the team remains highly competitive. Experts suggest any combination of Pakistani players should be able to secure a dominant victory against Oman.
Potential for an Upset?
While Pakistan is heavily favored, they have a history of unexpected losses, such as their defeat to the US in the 2024 World Cup opener. However, given the circumstances and the unfamiliarity of the Oman team, an upset seems unlikely. The upcoming match against India on Sunday will likely be the greater focus for the Pakistani team.