A mismatch on paper: Will the India-Pakistan final follow a different script?

In just a few hours, India and Pakistan will meet again -- for the third time in this Asia Cup. The venue, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and the day of the week, Sunday -- are the same as their two previous encounters during the group stage and the Super Four.

However, for neutrals, Pakistan fans, and perhaps even Indian fans, the resemblance of this much-anticipated tie must end there -- at least for cricket's sake. The entertainment dished out in the previous two matches was nothing compared to what the world once witnessed between the two cricket-crazy, politically charged neighbours.

India won on both occasions -- making it look like a cakewalk. The first in the group stage by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare, and the second by completing a chase that looked easier than it should have been.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav outright dismissed the notion of an India-Pakistan contest still being a "rivalry" after that six-wicket win in their previous meeting exactly a week ago. And despite saying it unprompted, in a pompous and demeaning tone, Suryakumar was absolutely right. In recent years, Pakistan have failed to even come close to their archrivals in terms of cricketing brilliance.

Consider this tournament alone. India restricted Pakistan to a mere 127 for nine in their first meeting before strolling over the line with ease. The second game promised a spark from Pakistan -- but only because of India's flurry of dropped catches. Yet the way the Men in Blue finished the job -- from halting Pakistan's early batting momentum to racing past 100 inside 10 overs and virtually ending any hope of Salman Ali Agha and Co defending their total -- highlighted the gulf between the two sides.

In 17 editions and 41 years of the tournament's history, India and Pakistan will finally clash in a title showdown -- an outcome organisers have long craved, making their intentions obvious by designing fixtures and formats to achieve exactly this.

But fate brings them together in a final that, on paper, looks like a mismatch. Breaking the two sides into individual elements makes the gap even clearer.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali does not possess anywhere near the 360-degree batting dynamism of his counterpart, Suryakumar. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been miles ahead of Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi -- in pace, variations, lethality, and effectiveness.

India opener Abhishek Sharma, the tournament's top scorer with 309 runs at an average of 51.50 and a blistering strike rate of 204.63, is the frontrunner for Player of the Tournament. Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan, who impressed with a fifty against India in their last game, is far from Abhishek's league.

Faheem Ashraf is not nearly as explosive or threatening an allrounder as Hardik Pandya. Similarly, India's Kuldeep Yadav -- the leading wicket-taker this edition with 13 -- offers more experience, wickets, and zip than Pakistan's leggie Abrar Ahmed.

As a team, Pakistan have looked less convincing than some of the sides already knocked out. They even struggled in games they should have been in total control -- such as the Super Four match against Sri Lanka, when they lost four wickets in just 16 deliveries before successfully chasing a modest 134.

India, on the other hand, have stormed their way into the final. Their only close contest came in a dead rubber against Sri Lanka, which they eventually won in a Super Over after a thrilling game that saw both sides post 200-plus totals.

On paper, the final looks to be heading in the same direction -- unless India suffer a rare slip or Pakistan summon their trademark unpredictability to turn things around when the chips are down.

Despite not being the best side of the tournament, Pakistan are somehow in the final. And the last time India entered a final unbeaten -- the 2023 ODI World Cup at home -- they lost to Australia to end a 10-game winning streak in that tournament. 

For Pakistan, these trivia offer a glimmer of hope. For India, nothing matters except another dominant display.

As for the fans? Indian supporters will want their team to defend the title, Pakistan fans will crave revenge, but above all, both sets of fans are probably desperate for a worthy contest after such a long wait for a title clash.