Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday, 26th July, announced the schedule for the Asia Cup 2025. The men’s cricket tournament will be held from 9 to 28 September 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
One of the most anticipated matches of the tournament – the India vs Pakistan group-stage clash – will take place on Sunday, 14 September, at the Dubai International Stadium. Both teams are placed in the same group, which means there is a strong chance they could face each other again in the Super 4 stage on 21 September.
India to Start Campaign on 10 September
Team India will begin their campaign on 10 September against UAE. All of India’s matches are expected to be held in Dubai. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
The tournament will consist of 19 matches, to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Each team will be allowed to have a 17-member squad for the competition.
Asia Cup 2025 Schedule — Group Stage
| Date (2025) | Day | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 9 September | Tuesday | Afghanistan vs Hong Kong |
| 10 September | Wednesday | India vs UAE |
| 11 September | Thursday | Bangladesh vs Hong Kong |
| 12 September | Friday | Pakistan vs Oman |
| 13 September | Saturday | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka |
| 14 September | Sunday | India vs Pakistan |
| 15 September | Monday | UAE vs Oman |
| 15 September | Monday | Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong |
| 16 September | Tuesday | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan |
| 17 September | Wednesday | Pakistan vs UAE |
| 18 September | Thursday | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan |
| 19 September | Friday | India vs Oman |
Asia Cup 2025 – Super 4 Stage Schedule
| Date (2025) | Match |
|---|---|
| 20 September | B1 vs B2 |
| 21 September | A1 vs A2 (likely India vs Pakistan) |
| 23 September | A2 vs B1 |
| 24 September | A1 vs B2 |
| 25 September | A2 vs B2 |
| 26 September | A1 vs B1 |
Final Match Date
| Date (2025) | Match |
|---|---|
| 28 September | Final |
Related: India’s Tour of Bangladesh Likely Postponed
Naqvi Makes Formal Announcement
Before the official announcement, Naqvi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), posted on social media platform X: “I am pleased to announce the dates of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The tournament will be played from 9 to 28 September. We are looking forward to a grand display of cricket.”
The decision to hold the tournament in the UAE was finalised in the ACC meeting on 24 July, attended by representatives of all 25 member nations.
Hosted by BCCI in a Neutral Venue
Although the tournament is hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it will be played in the UAE due to the current political tensions between India and Pakistan. Both boards have mutually agreed to play against each other only at neutral venues until 2027. For the same reason, earlier this year India played all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, despite Pakistan being the official host, and eventually won the trophy.
Possible Three Encounters Between India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan are guaranteed to meet once in the group stage. If both teams qualify for the Super Four stage, they will face each other again on 21 September. Should both sides reach the final, fans could witness a third blockbuster clash between the two arch-rivals.
Tournament to Be Played in T20 Format
This edition of the Asia Cup will be held in the T20 format. The decision was taken in line with tradition, as the next ICC event will be the T20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.