The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially confirmed that the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28. The announcement was made on Saturday, July 26, by ACC Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, through his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
In a move that will excite fans across the cricketing world, arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group for the tournament. The two teams are scheduled to face off on September 14 in what promises to be one of the most highly anticipated matches of the year. With the tournament format including both Super Four and final stages, there’s a possibility the fierce rivals could meet up to three times—should they both advance.
The 2025 Asia Cup will feature eight teams competing in the T20 format, serving as a crucial preparatory event ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. The tournament will span 19 matches, all expected to be played across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
India’s group stage campaign kicks off on September 10 against hosts UAE, followed by the marquee clash with Pakistan on September 14, and concluding with a match against Oman on September 19.
The announcement comes amid heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after the recent Pahalgam terror attack in April and subsequent cross-border military exchanges. This strain was also evident in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), where a scheduled match between Indian and Pakistani veteran teams was cancelled. Indian players—including high-profile names such as Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Shikhar Dhawan—pulled out of the game amid strong public sentiment against participating.
India and Pakistan last met in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, where Virat Kohli’s century powered India to a comfortable six-wicket win in Dubai. India eventually clinched the title, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
With the Asia Cup returning to the UAE and tensions still simmering off the field, the tournament is expected to draw massive attention—both for the cricketing spectacle and the high-stakes encounters it promises.
