The United Arab Emirates will host the 17th edition of the Asia Cup 2025 from September 9 to 28, 2025. The tournament, comprising 19 matches, will be played in T20 format. Dubai will host 11 matches, while Abu Dhabi will host 8 matches. It will be a fantastic event for cricket-loving fans. The final match, culminating in a spectacular climax, will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Participating Countries
This time, eight teams are fighting for glory, up from 6 teams that participated in the last edition of the Asia Cup. In addition to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, three emerging cricketing nations —viz. The United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Hong Kong will fight for the Asia Cup trophy. The teams are divided into two groups:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, the UAE, and Oman
- Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong
The first game of the tournament will be played between Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi. Cricket fans around the world are looking forward to the famous high-voltage India vs. Pakistan game to be played on September 14 in Dubai.
Format of the Tournament
The Asia Cup 2025 tournament has two stages:
- Group Stage: Every team in a group plays every other team in that group once.
- Super Four Stage: The top two teams from each group advance to the next stage, where they compete against each other in a round-robin format.
- Final: The top two teams from the Super Four will play in the big final on September 28.
Asia Cup 2025 Match Schedules
| GROUP STAGE MATCHES | |||
| Date & Venue | Group A Matches | Date & Time | Group B Matches |
| 9/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | Afghanistan vs. Hong Kong | 10/9/2025 Dubai | India vs. UAE |
| 11/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | Bangladesh vs. Hong Kong | 12/9/2025 Dubai | Pakistan vs. Oman |
| 13/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka | 14/9/2025 Dubai | India vs. Pakistan |
| 15/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | UAE vs. Oman | 15/9/2025 Dubai | Sri Lanka vs. Hong Kong |
| 16/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan | 17/9/2025 Dubai | Pakistan vs. UAE |
| 18/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan | 19/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | India vs. Oman |
| SUPER 4 STAGE MATCHES | |||
| 20/9/2025 Dubai | B1 vs. B2 | 21/9/2025 Dubai | A1 vs. A2 |
| 23/9/2025 Abu Dhabi | A2 vs. B1 | 24/9/2025 Dubai | A1 vs. B2 |
| 25/9/2025 Dubai | A2 vs. B2 | 26/9/2025 Dubai | A1 vs. B1 |
| 28/9/2025 Dubai | TBD vs TBD (Final Match) | ||
Note: All matches (except one match) will start at 7.30 PM IST (6.00 PM Dubai Time). The UAE vs. Oman match will start at 5.30 PM IST (4.00 PM Dubai Time).
Brief History of Asia Cup
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) started the Asia Cup in 1983 as a biennial ODI tournament. It has switched between ODI and T20I formats over time to match the upcoming World Cups. It has not only showcased the greatness of cricket, but it has also demonstrated how Asian countries can come together through sports, even when they disagree on political matters.
The Asia Cup has had 16 winning teams, and each one has left a mark on the history of Asian cricket. India has won the trophy eight times, demonstrating its dominance in both One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Sri Lanka comes in second with six championships, demonstrating its consistency on both home and neutral fields. Pakistan has won the prize twice. Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and other new teams have yet to win the trophy, but they have made recent tournaments more exciting and competitive.
Teams winning the Titles
- India won 8 times in 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016 (T20I), 2018, and 2023.
- Sri Lanka won six times: 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, and 2022
- Pakistan won 2 times in 2000 and 2012
- Other Teams: 0 (not won yet)
The history of the Asia Cup trophy reflects the growing popularity of cricket in Asian countries, particularly for the game’s new formats, ODIs and T20I extravaganzas.
What makes the Asia Cup 2025 special
There are a variety of factors that set the 2025 edition apart:
- Excitement at a Neutral venue: The UAE offers a world-class venue site where India and Pakistan play matches.
- More Teams: With eight teams fighting for the trophy this year, there will be more surprises and new rivalries.
- Getting ready for the T20 World Cup: The Asia Cup 2025 is a great opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026. Every game is crucial for teams to work on their strategies.
Conclusion
The Asia Cup 2025 promises to be an exciting blend of traditions, intense rivalries between teams, and the thrill of both old and modern cricket. This tournament will continue to keep the story of Asian cricket alive, with India’s supremacy, Sri Lanka’s consistency, and Pakistan’s fighting spirit. Fans can expect cricket fireworks, historic rivalries, and surprises from new teams that will keep them on the edge of their seats in the UAE’s world-class grounds.