The battle for Asian cricket supremacy will take place from September 9 to 28.
After much back-and-forth, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) finally confirmed the dates for the upcoming Asia Cup, just a day after their annual meeting concluded. The much-anticipated tournament is set to begin in early September.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement on social media on Saturday, stating that the tournament will begin in the UAE on September 9 and run until the 28th.
“I am delighted to confirm the dates for the 2025 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. This prestigious tournament will run from September 9 to 28. Looking forward to a spectacular showcase of cricket. The detailed schedule will be announced soon.”
This year’s Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, featuring eight teams. Alongside the five ACC full members — Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — the tournament will also include UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong.
The ACC’s annual meeting was held in Dhaka last Thursday, though the gathering was initially clouded by uncertainty. The BCCI had reportedly expressed hesitation about attending, followed by similar concerns from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka’s boards.
Eventually, all members took part, and the Asia Cup was one of the key topics of discussion. With recent escalations in India-Pakistan political tensions, including a militant attack in Pahalgam, doubts loomed over the tournament’s future.
Following the meeting, Naqvi held a press conference but didn’t confirm any specifics about the Asia Cup. A day later, he officially announced the tournament’s dates himself.
Originally, India was slated to host this edition of the Asia Cup. However, due to a prior agreement between the BCCI and PCB, the tournament was shifted to the UAE. During the last Champions Trophy, India refused to play in Pakistan, and their matches were held at neutral venues. The same understanding applies this time around — if India hosts, Pakistan’s matches will also be played on neutral ground.
Earlier this year in Dubai, India won the Champions Trophy by defeating New Zealand in the final.
There’s already speculation over whether arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be placed in the same group for the Asia Cup. Given the trend over the past decade, where they’ve frequently been grouped together, fans are expecting another high-stakes clash.
India are the reigning Asia Cup champions, having beaten Sri Lanka in the 2023 final. Sri Lanka had won the title in 2022 by defeating Pakistan.
