Karachi/New Delhi, Jul 26: The men’s Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday.
As per the itinerary, the marquee group match between India and Pakistan will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (September 14).
The arch-rivals are clubbed in the same group and are expected to square off again in a Super Four game on next Sunday (September 21).
India will start its campaign against UAE on September 10 and are likely to play all its matches in Dubai.
India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman are clubbed in group A, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong are in group B.
The ACC will allow 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament and matches will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
ACC president Mohsin Naqvi stated, “Hosting the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE allows fans from across Asia to come together in a setting that mirrors our region’s incredible diversity. When crowds gather to witness the tournament’s unforgettable clashes, it will be a great reminder of cricket’s power to build bridges.”
“The ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup is the marquee event of Asian cricket, and we are proud to present an expanded platform this year,” Naqvi added.
“This year marks yet another milestone in ACC’s journey and a noteworthy development for cricket in Asia. With the inclusion of additional teams in the tournament, we are witnessing the game’s boundaries expand, both geographically and competitively. This will be Asia Cup at its finest.”
The venue of the event was decided at an ACC meeting on July 24, which was attended by all the 25 member nations.
BCCI is the host of the tournament but it is being held in the UAE as India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to compete only at neutral venues till 2027 due to the prevailing cross-border tension between them.
As per ACC’s deal with the broadcasters, India and Pakistan will be clubbed in the same group and also get another shot at each other in the Super Four stage with a possibility of a third meeting if both teams reach the final.
This edition of the Asia Cup will be held in T20 format as is the convention with the next ICC global meet being T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
India’s Asia Cup Group League itinerary
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Sep 10: India vs UAE
Sep 14: India vs Pakistan
Sep 19: India vs Oman.
Super Four Schedule
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Sep 20: B1 vs B2
Sep 21: A1 vs A2 (likely India vs Pakistan)
Sep 23: A2 svs B1
Sep 24: A1vs B2
Sep 25: A2 vs B2
Sep 26: A1 vs B1
Sep 28: Final.–(PTI)
