(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Asia Cup 2025: Schedule, Format, Teams, and Pakistan’s Campaign
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially released the schedule for the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, clearing doubts that had surrounded the tournament in recent months. The event will take place in the UAE from September 10 to 28, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting all matches.
Why the Asia Cup is in the UAE
Although India hold the official hosting rights, matches were moved to the UAE due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. Under a mutual agreement, both countries will continue to play each other at neutral venues in multi-team tournaments for the next three years.
The UAE has previously staged the 2018 and 2022 Asia Cups and remains a popular choice thanks to its large South Asian diaspora and strong cricket infrastructure.
Teams and Format
For the first time, eight teams will compete in the Asia Cup. The five ICC full members — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan — are joined by Hong Kong, Oman, and the UAE, who qualified through the ACC Premier Cup.
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Group A: India, Pakistan, Oman, UAE
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Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
Each team will play three group matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The Super Four will also be played in a round-robin format, and the top two teams will face off in the final on September 28 in Dubai.
Key Fixtures
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Tournament Opener: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong (Sept 10, Abu Dhabi)
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India’s First Match: vs UAE (Sept 11, Dubai)
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Pakistan’s First Match: vs Oman (Sept 12, Dubai)
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India vs Pakistan: Sept 14 (Dubai)
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Super Four stage begins Sept 19
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Final: Sept 28 (Dubai)
Fans could witness up to three Pakistan–India encounters: once in the group stage, potentially again in the Super Four, and possibly in the final if both teams advance.
Past Records in T20 Asia Cup
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India: Champions in 2016, strongest record (8 wins in 10 matches).
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Sri Lanka: Defending champions, winners in 2022.
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Pakistan: Reached 2022 final but lost to Sri Lanka.
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Afghanistan: Competitive side with 4 wins from 8 matches.
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Bangladesh & UAE: Three wins each in their T20 Asia Cup history.
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Oman: One win in three games.
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Hong Kong: Yet to win a match.
Preparation and Form
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Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE: Recently played a tri-series in Sharjah as preparation.
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India: Enter the tournament after a home T20I series against England (4-1).
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Bangladesh: Beat the Netherlands 2-0 in Sylhet.
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Sri Lanka: Arrive after a bilateral series in Zimbabwe.
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Oman: Named four uncapped players for the tournament after domestic competitions.
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Hong Kong: Recently appointed former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva as head coach.
Why the Asia Cup Matters
The T20 Asia Cup provides teams a vital opportunity to fine-tune their squads ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka, scheduled for early next year. For fans, it offers thrilling contests, especially the much-anticipated India–Pakistan clashes, which remain some of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
