Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know
Asia Cup 2025 kicks off on September 9 in the UAE, returning in the T20 format for the first time since 2022. Defending champions India, who lifted the crown in the 50-over edition in 2023, will look to extend their dominance, while Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh chase redemption.
Matches begin at 6:30pm local time (8:30pm Bangladesh time).
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Here's a look at the tournament's history, format, key players and everything else you need to know.
A Brief History of the Asia Cup
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was formed in 1983 with the aim of expanding cricket across the continent and bringing regional teams together through tournaments such as the Asia Cup.
The inaugural edition took place in 1984 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where India triumphed in a three-nation ODI event involving Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The tournament is only nine years younger than the ODI World Cup and was originally envisioned to promote goodwill among Asian nations.
Initially biennial, the competition faced political disruptions – Pakistan boycotted in 1990 over tensions with India, while the 1993 edition was cancelled altogether. Despite interruptions, the Asia Cup has become a consistent fixture, held every two years since 2008, except for the Covid-19 cancellation in 2020.
India are the most successful side with eight titles, followed by Sri Lanka with six. Pakistan have lifted the trophy twice, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh are yet to win.
The 2025 Edition – Dates and Venues
The Asia Cup 2025 will run from September 9 to 28 in the UAE.
Opening match: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, September 9, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Final: September 28, Dubai International Cricket Stadium
All 19 matches will be split between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with Sharjah missing out.
Why UAE and not India?
India were originally scheduled to host the 2025 tournament. However, due to ongoing political tensions and an agreement that India and Pakistan play only at neutral venues before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, the ACC opted for the UAE as a single, neutral host.
While the BCCI remains the official host, logistical considerations made the UAE the practical choice.
Teams and Tournament Format
Eight teams will compete, divided into two groups:
Group A: India, Pakistan, Oman, UAE
Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
From the group stage, the top two in each pool advance to the Super Four, where teams play each other in a round-robin format. The top two from that stage will contest the final.
Why T20 format this year?
The Asia Cup has alternated between ODIs and T20Is since 2016, depending on the format of the upcoming World Cup.
2023 edition: ODI (ahead of the 50-over World Cup)
2025 edition: T20I (ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, February 2026)
India vs Pakistan: A triple treat?
Few fixtures generate as much excitement as India vs Pakistan.
Confirmed clash: September 14 in Dubai (Group Stage)
Possible second: September 21 (Super Four, if both qualify)
Potential third: September 28 final
Interestingly, despite the hype, the arch-rivals have never met in an Asia Cup final across 16 editions.
Key players to watch
Abhishek Sharma (India): Explosive 24-year-old opener with a career T20 strike rate of 193.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): Skipper and T20 superstar, boasting nearly a decade of international experience.
Hasan Nawaz (Pakistan): 23-year-old batter with a strike rate of 174, seen as Pakistan's answer to modern T20 demands.
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka): Consistent opener in excellent form, with eight 30+ scores in his last 10 T20 innings.
Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh): Pace spearhead with a T20 bowling strike rate of 17.5 and form to back it.
Why Nepal missed out
The ACC reserved five slots for permanent members (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). The remaining three went to the top teams from the ACC Premier Cup 2024. Nepal finished fourth, narrowly missing qualification.
Past winners of the Asia Cup
India: 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023
Sri Lanka: 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022
Pakistan: 2000, 2012
India's emphatic win in 2023, where Mohammed Siraj's six-for dismantled Sri Lanka in the final, cemented them as the tournament's most successful team.
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