The Asia Cup final has arrived, and for once the weight of history feels heavier than the burden of expectation. India and Pakistan have clashed countless times, yet never in an Asia Cup final. Forty-one years in the making, Dubai now plays host to a contest that feels both inevitable and rare.

India enters the final unbeaten, while Pakistan has lost twice – both to the Indians. Yet even those commanding wins would count for little if Suryakumar Yadav's men falter on Sunday, especially after he remarked that the rivalry sometimes felt lopsided, with recent results heavily favouring India . That, in turn, adds a different kind of pressure to the occasion.

India skipped the pre-match press conference, citing a recovery day, but Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha seized the opportunity

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