The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced that the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, with arch-rivals Pakistan and India placed in Group A.
ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the development on social media, stating:
“We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket. The detailed match schedule will be released soon.”
According to the announced groups:
Group A: Pakistan, India, UAE, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong
The tournament will kick off on September 9 with a curtain-raiser between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
Pakistan’s Group-Stage Matches
🏏 Sept 12: Pakistan vs Oman
🏏 Sept 14: Pakistan vs India (high-voltage clash)
🏏 Sept 17: Pakistan vs UAE
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four, where Pakistan and India could potentially meet again on September 21. The final is scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.
T20 Format Ahead of World Cup 2026
Unlike the 2023 edition (which was in 50-over format), the 2025 Asia Cup will be played in T20 format as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February next year.
Neutral Venue After India-Pakistan Stand-Off
Originally awarded to India, the 2025 Asia Cup was shifted to the UAE due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. Both boards agreed not to tour each other’s countries, making the UAE the most suitable neutral venue.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are expected to host the majority of matches, given the UAE’s proven track record in hosting major cricket tournaments, including past Asia Cups, IPL seasons, and World Cup qualifiers.
Qualified Teams
The five ACC full members – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan – qualified automatically. They will be joined by UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, who secured their spots via the ACC Men’s Premier Cup.
Key Highlights
✅ Asia Cup 2025 Dates: Sept 9–28
✅ Venue: UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi)
✅ Format: T20
✅ Pakistan vs India: Sept 14 (Group Stage), Possible rematch Sept 21 (Super Four)
✅ Final: Sept 28
