The trophy for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 was unveiled, marking the start of the eight-nation tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The unveiling ceremony was led by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, and was attended by the captains of all participating teams.
Here are the key details of the tournament:
- Dates and Format: The tournament will run from September 9 to September 28. This edition will be played in the T20 format, serving as a crucial preparatory event for the T20 World Cup 2026.
- Venues: The matches will be played at two venues in the UAE: the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
- Groups:
- Group A: Pakistan, India, Oman, and UAE.
- Group B: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.
- Pakistan’s Schedule: Pakistan, who recently won a tri-nation series, will begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman in Dubai. Their highly anticipated match against arch-rivals India is scheduled for September 14, followed by a final group stage match against the UAE on September 17.
- Opening Match: The tournament’s first match is scheduled for today (Tuesday) between Afghanistan and Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
- Pakistan vs. India: The two rivals are in Group A and could potentially face each other up to three times if they both qualify for the Super Four stage and the final.
- Captain’s Comments: Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav expressed his team’s excitement for the Asia Cup, noting the challenging nature of the T20 format where “any team can deliver an extraordinary performance.”
- Wasim Akram’s Appeal: Former Pakistan fast-bowler Wasim Akram has urged players and fans to maintain discipline during the high-voltage Pakistan-India matches and “not cross the line.”
