The UAE will host the 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup from September 9 to September 28, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been formally announced as the host cities for the tournament.
Dubai will host 11 matches, including the showpiece final, while Abu Dhabi will host eight.
As anticipation increases for the prestigious tournament, India's Group A matches have already made news. The Men in Blue will take on UAE and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10 and September 14, respectively.
Their match against Oman will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 19.
Highlighting the significance of the tournament, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement, “The Asia Cup is more than just a tournament, it’s a celebration of Asian cricket. Hosting it in the UAE allows us to bring the excitement to one of the most vibrant cricketing hubs in the world. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are well equipped to deliver a seamless and world class experience for players, fans, and broadcasters alike.”
He went on to say, "We believe that the 2025 version won't just break new ground for quality but also strengthen the bond between the game and millions of devoted fans throughout the continent."
The tournament will host eight teams for the first time in a T20I format, as part of build-up to the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
The top two teams in each group will move on to the Super Fours, while the two best teams in that phase will contest the title in the final.
The tournament will kick off with a fixture between Afghanistan and Hong Kong China on September 9 in Abu Dhabi.
While India is the intended host of this year's Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to hold the tournament in the UAE because of ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. A mutual agreement between both cricket boards makes it possible to have India-Pakistan matches at neutral locations until at least 2027.
India comes into the event as title holders, having won the 2023 Asia Cup (50-overs) by beating Sri Lanka in Colombo. Sri Lanka, in turn, won the T20I variant in 2022 after defeating Pakistan in the final.
Full Schedule – 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup
Sept 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong China – Abu Dhabi
Sept 10: India vs UAE – Dubai
Sept 11: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong China – Abu Dhabi
Sept 12: Pakistan vs Oman – Dubai
Sept 13: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka – Abu Dhabi
Sept 14: India vs Pakistan – Dubai
Sept 15: UAE vs Oman – Abu Dhabi
Sept 15: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong China – Dubai
Sept 16: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Abu Dhabi
Sept 17: Pakistan vs UAE – Dubai
Sept 18: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Abu Dhabi
Sept 19: India vs Oman – Abu Dhabi
Super Fours:
Sept 20: B1 vs B2 – Dubai
Sept 21: A1 vs A2 – Dubai
Sept 23: A2 vs B1 – Abu Dhabi
Sept 24: A1 vs B2 – Dubai
Sept 25: A2 vs B2 – Dubai
Sept 26: A1 vs B1 – Dubai
Final:
Sept 28: Winner 1 vs Winner 2 – Dubai
Read also| Watch| 'Sometimes...': Saina Nehwal Posts Photo With Parupalli Kashyap Weeks After Split
