India vs Pakistan: How will the Dubai pitch play in Asia Cup final? And what will the weather be like?

The 17th edition of the Asia Cup, which takes place in the T20 format for only the third time in its 41-year history, is set to reach its conclusion on Sunday with India and Pakistan squaring off in a dream final in Dubai on Sunday.

The two teams had been put together in Group A, which also been the last three consecutive editions as well in 2008, with the idea that the two teams could possibly face each other up to three times over the course of the tournament.

It is in the ongoing tournament, however, that the two arch-rivals will be facing each other thrice in the same edition of the continental event for the first time ever.

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More importantly, Sunday’s showdown between these two teams will mark the first ever India-Pakistan final in the 41-year history of the Asia Cup.

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Ahead of the high-voltage, emotionally-charged showdown between the two sides, who have have contrasting journeys to the final, we take a look at what’s in store as far as the weather and pitch in Dubai is concerned.

How is the pitch in Dubai expected to behave in the Asia Cup final? 

The wickets that have been used at the Dubai International Cricket Ground in the Asia Cup so far have been varying in nature. Some have been difficult to score on and have resulted in low-scoring contests, which especially evident in the virtual semi-final between Pakistan and Bangladesh in which the former successfully defended a modest total of 135. The India-Sri Lanka Super 4s face-off on Friday, meanwhile, witnessed both teams finish level on 202/5 with the wicket proving to be a paradise for batters.

For Sunday’s showdown, a fresh surface will be used that is at the very centre of the ground, according to ESPNCricinfo. Wickets have generally been on the slower side at this venue, and it remains to be seen how the fresh strip behaves on Sunday, with reports suggesting that spin could play a decisive role once again.

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Will it rain in Dubai during Sunday’s Asia Cup final? 

There are just three recorded instances of a match getting washed out due to rain in all the international matches that have taken place in the United Arab Emirates since Sharjah first began hosting ODIs in 1984.

All three, interestingly have taken place in Dubai, with the only washout at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium having taken place in November 2018 during an ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand. Given how matches in this part of the world are rarely effected by rainfall, it is safe to assume that we will have an uninterrupted final between India and Pakistan on Sunday.

On the contrary, the conditions are expected to remain warm in the evening, with the temperature hovering around the 33-34 degree Celsius mark, conditions that will no doubt test the fitness of players with quite a few cases of cramps in recent games.