The much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown at the 2025 Asia Cup is set for September 14, as per the schedule confirmed by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi.

The T20-format continental tournament will run from September 9 to 28, featuring 19 matches and eight participating teams — two more than the previous edition.

The tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), across venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Despite India holding the hosting rights, ongoing geopolitical tensions between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have led the ACC to opt for a neutral venue.

The specific stadium allocations for each fixture will be announced later.

The last edition of the Asia Cup in 2023 followed a hybrid model, with India refusing to travel to Pakistan. Nine matches, including the final, were held in Sri Lanka, while four were hosted in Pakistan.

A similar hybrid structure was also followed in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The ACC has since announced that tournaments involving India and Pakistan will continue to be played in hybrid or neutral formats until at least 2028.

Asia Cup 2025: Groups & Format

Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman
Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong

The top two teams from each group will proceed to the Super Four stage, where each side will face the others once. The top two teams from the Super Four will qualify for the final on September 28.

India and Pakistan could face off up to three times during the tournament — once in the group stage, potentially again in the Super Four on September 22, and in a possible final, which would be a historic first in Asia Cup history.

ACC President Mohsin Naqvi commented:

“The ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup is the marquee event of Asian cricket, and we are proud to present an expanded platform this year. With the inclusion of additional teams, the tournament reflects the growing competitiveness and reach of cricket across Asia.”

Teams are expected to arrive in the UAE by September 7. It remains unclear whether any official warm-up fixtures will be held.

India, led by Rohit Sharma, are the defending champions, having convincingly beaten Sri Lanka in the 2023 final ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup.

Asia Cup 2025 – Group Stage Schedule

Super Four Stage

Final

The Asia Cup remains a cornerstone of Asian cricket, not only as a platform for fierce rivalries but also as a financial backbone for regional boards.

A significant portion of the tournament’s revenue is driven by Indian sponsors and viewership.

In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) secured the media rights for Asia Cup events in a landmark USD 170 million deal covering eight years.

With the stakes high and the potential for blockbuster encounters, Asia Cup 2025 promises to be a landmark edition in the tournament’s storied history.

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