KEY POINTS
- The Pakistan-India group match will be played on Sept 7
- Pakistan and India will face off again in the Super Four stage on Sept 14
- The T20I format tournament’s final match will be played on Sept 21
- Six teams—India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and UAE—will compete
ISLAMABAD: The countdown has begun for the Asia Cup 2025, as cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the official schedule that promises a thrilling 17-day spectacle across the UAE, with a fiery Pakistan-India rivalry at its heart.
The tournament is likely to commence on September 5, an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, spotlighting the group stage blockbuster between arch-rivals Pakistan and India on September 7 in Dubai.
The cricketing saga doesn’t end there. The two titans are slated to clash again on September 14 during the Super Four stage, ensuring at least two high-octane encounters that will captivate fans and set the tournament ablaze.
The T20I format tournament will culminate with a grand final on September 21.
Six nations — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE — will battle through group stages and Super Fours in a format designed to keep adrenaline pumping.
While India is the official host, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) plans to stage the event at a neutral venue, most likely the UAE, continuing the hybrid hosting agreed between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This year’s arrangement reflects a delicate balance amid regional complexities. The ACC is expected to unveil the full schedule in early July, marking a hopeful chapter of sporting diplomacy, especially after concerns were raised by recent cross-border tensions.
Promoters and broadcasters have already begun stirring excitement, with Sony releasing official teasers hinting at a cricket carnival ahead.
Despite whispers of India’s potential withdrawal, the BCCI has firmly denied such rumours, reaffirming its commitment to compete and keeping the spirit of cricket alive amid challenging times.
