Asia Cup 2025: UAE to Host Prestigious Cricket Tournament in T20 Format, Full Schedule Awaited
Asia Cup 2025: India vs Pakistan Group Stage Clash Set for September 14 in Dubai
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced the dates for the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025. The tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, ACC president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday via social media platform X.
This edition of the Asia Cup will return to the T20 format, aligning with preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in early next year.
Naqvi stated, “I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in UAE. We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket. The detailed schedule will be out soon. #CricketWins.”
The India vs Pakistan clash, always the centerpiece of the tournament, is expected to draw significant attention, especially as it would mark the first encounter between the two sides after the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Security arrangements and venue neutrality have played key roles in the UAE being selected as the host nation.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is officially listed as the tournament host, political tensions led to a neutral venue being finalized during a recent ACC meeting. Although BCCI officials did not travel to Dhaka for the session, they attended via video conferencing, allowing for the unanimous confirmation of the schedule.
The tournament will feature eight teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman. The previous Asia Cup in 2023 was held in a hybrid model due to India-Pakistan tensions, with India eventually lifting the title in Colombo.
Given past controversies, including India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 and 2024 tournaments, all eyes will be on how this edition unfolds — both on and off the field.
