
The 2025 edition of Asia Cup will take place in UAE from 9th to 28th September while the highly-anticipated India versus Pakistan clash will be held on 14th September, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed on Saturday (July 26).
Eight countries, including bitter rivals India and Pakistan, will compete in the continental tournament, which will be played in the T20 format. The eight participating teams include India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman.
A total of 19 matches will be played in the marquee event. India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group alongside UAE and Oman, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong have been placed in the other group.
Two venues, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will reportedly host the matches in the United Arab Emirates. Although the BCCI holds the hosting rights, the competition will be staged at a neutral venue due to ongoing cross-border conflict involving India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The specific venues for individual matches are yet to be finalised.
Notably, hybrid model was adopted for the Asia Cup 2023 after India refused to travel to Pakistan – the designated hosts for the tournament. All of India’s games were played in Sri Lanka, including the final, while Pakistan hosted four matches.
Earlier this year, the Champions Trophy was also played in a hybrid model after BCCI decided against sending its team across the border. India's matches were played in the UAE, with the ICC announcing that tournaments hosted by India or Pakistan will be held in a hybrid model until 2027.
As far as the format of the Asia Cup 2025 is concerned, two teams from each group will make it to the Super Four stage. In the Super Fours, each team will face the other three once. Two teams from the Super Four stage will qualify for the final.
India and Pakistan can face each other three times in the Asia Cup. After the group stage fixture on 14th September, they can meet once again on 22nd September if they qualify together for the Super Four stage.
The broadcasters will be hoping for an India versus Pakistan clash in the final, which has never happened before in the history of the tournament.
Asia Cup 2025 Full Schedule
Group Stage
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): 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
Super 4
20 September (Saturday): Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2
21 September (Sunday): Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2
23 September (Tuesday): Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2
24 September (Wednesday): Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2
25 September (Thursday): Group A Qualifier 2 vs Group B Qualifier 2
26 September (Friday): Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 1
Final
28 September (Sunday): Final Match
