Naqvi confirms dates for Asia Cup

Express Tribune

6 days ago

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the dates and venue for the Asia Cup 2025 on Saturday, confirming that the tournament will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28.
Naqvi shared the update through his official account on X (formerly Twitter), revealing the tournament window and stating that the detailed match schedule will be released at a later date.
"I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 in UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th," he wrote.
"We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket! Detailed Schedule will be out soon."
For the unversed, as reported earlier, the tournament will feature eight teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, UAE and Oman.
A total of 19 matches will be played, including the final, which is scheduled for the last Sunday of September.
Earlier in May, rumours surfaced that India might skip the Asia Cup 2025, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) swiftly denied such claims.
More recently, a promotional poster for the tournament featuring only India and Sri Lanka began circulating on social media, raising eyebrows over the absence of Pakistan and fueling speculations about their participation, particularly due to the strained political ties between the two neighbouring nations.
Given the agreement reached between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last year, which limits their bilateral encounters to only neutral ICC or ACC tournaments, it is clear that a potential India vs Pakistan clash will not be played on Indian soil.
Schedule to be announced later
According to a report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the designated host of the continental championship, was assigned the responsibility of finalising the schedule during the meeting.
Sources suggest the schedule may be released in phases, partially on Saturday and the remainder on Monday, although a complete announcement over the weekend remains possible.
The BCCI is currently giving final touches to the draft schedule while resolving commercial formalities. While minor date adjustments are possible, the overall window in mid-to-late September is expected to remain unchanged.
India and Pakistan are expected to be placed in the same group, raising the prospect of up to three high profile clashes, one in the group stage, another in the Super Four, and possibly in the final. The Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format.
Earlier in May, rumours surfaced that India might skip the Asia Cup 2025, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) swiftly denied such claims.
More recently, a promotional poster for the tournament featuring only India and Sri Lanka began circulating on social media, raising eyebrows over the absence of Pakistan and fueling speculations about their participation, particularly due to the strained political ties between the two neighbouring nations.
Given the agreement reached between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last year, which limits their bilateral encounters to only neutral ICC or ACC tournaments, it is clear that a potential India vs Pakistan clash will not be played on Indian soil.