Men's Asia Cup 2025 Scheduled in UAE: Key Details Revealed
Men's Asia Cup 2025 to be Hosted in UAE
The Men's Asia Cup 2025 is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, as confirmed by Mohsin Naqvi, the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This tournament will adopt the T20I format and will include eight teams: the five full members of the ACC—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—alongside the UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. In the previous tournament, India played all its matches, including the crucial game against Pakistan, in Dubai, ultimately winning the final held there. It remains uncertain if India and Pakistan will be in the same group for the upcoming Asia Cup, with India currently holding the title of defending champion. In 2023, India opted not to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, leading to Sri Lanka being chosen as the neutral venue for India's matches.
India vs. Pakistan Match Scheduled for September 14
The future of the Asia Cup was in doubt following deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to calls for Pakistan's exclusion from international cricket events. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that any decisions regarding participation would be made after consultations with the Indian government. Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that the Asia Cup will indeed occur in the UAE from September 9 to 29, 2025.
This year's Asia Cup will feature a total of 19 matches with six teams vying for the championship. India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group, promising an exciting showdown, while the other group will include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. In May, there were numerous reports circulating on social media suggesting that India had chosen not to participate in this year's Asia Cup and the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup due to ongoing tensions with Pakistan. However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia firmly denied these claims, labeling them as 'speculative and imaginary.'
Neutral Venue for Asia Cup 2025
Although the BCCI holds the hosting rights for the 2025 Asia Cup, the tournament will be conducted at a neutral venue. The specific stadiums and cities for the matches have yet to be finalized. This arrangement mirrors the 2023 edition, which utilized a hybrid model after India declined to tour Pakistan. That year, Sri Lanka hosted nine matches, including the final, while Pakistan managed four games.
A similar setup was implemented earlier this year for the Champions Trophy, where India's matches were relocated to the UAE following the International Cricket Council's decision that any tournament officially hosted by India or Pakistan would adhere to a hybrid model until at least 2028.