The BRICS TimesIndia remains the most successful team in Asia Cup history. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, the Indian squad will aim for another dominant show. However, challenges await from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
The much-awaited Asia Cup 2025 begins on September 9 (Tuesday), with cricket lovers set for a thrilling month of action. The opening clash takes place at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, where Afghanistan will lock horns with Hong Kong. Team India will commence its campaign on September 10 against the host nation United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A high-voltage encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is scheduled for September 14 in Dubai, promising electrifying action.
Tournament Format and Groups
For the first time, eight nations will feature in the Asia Cup, divided into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, Oman, and UAE, while Group B comprises Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the Super-4 stage. From there, the two best teams will compete in the grand final on September 28 in Dubai.
Where and How to Watch?
In India, fans can enjoy live broadcasts of all Asia Cup 2025 matches on Sony Sports Network. Live streaming will also be available on the Sony LIV app and website. The tournament will feature a total of 19 matches. Eighteen of these will begin at 8 PM IST, while the UAE vs Oman clash on September 15 will start earlier at 5:30 PM IST.
Champions of the Past
This edition marks the 17th Asia Cup, which will once again be played in the T20 format, just like 2016 and 2022. Earlier editions were held in the ODI format. India is the most decorated team in the competition, with 8 titles (1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2023). Sri Lanka follows with 6 trophies (1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022), while Pakistan has clinched the title twice (2000 and 2012).
Host Nation and Venues
Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the official host, the entire tournament will unfold in the UAE. Political tensions between India and Pakistan made it difficult to stage matches in India. To ensure neutrality, just like the Champions Trophy 2025, UAE has been selected as the primary venue. Matches will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Why Nepal Missed Out?
Direct entries to the Asia Cup 2025 were granted to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Oman, UAE, and Hong Kong secured their spots through the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2024. Nepal finished fourth in the qualifying event held in Oman, missing out on a chance to feature in this year’s Asia Cup.
Complete Squads of All Teams
India: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Sahibzada Farhan, Sam Ayub.
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.
Bangladesh: Litton Das (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed.
Hong Kong: Yasim Murtaza (Captain), Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali, Nizakat Khan, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Mark Challu, Ayush Ashish Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Adil Mahmood, Haroon Arshad, Ali Hassan, Shahid Wasif, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Anas Khan, Ehsan Khan, Ateeq Iqbal, Kinchit Shah.
Oman: Jatinder Singh (Captain), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla, Sufiyan Yousuf, Ashish Odedara, Aamir Kaleem, Mohammad Nadeem, Sufiyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht, Karan Sonawale, Faisal Shah, Mohammad Imran, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Srivastava, Jikaria Islam, Hasnain Ali Shah.
UAE: Muhammad Waseem (Captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Sagheer Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sedikullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad.
Full Schedule of Asia Cup 2025 (IST)
- Sep 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 10: India vs UAE, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 11: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 12: Pakistan vs Oman, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 13: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 14: India vs Pakistan, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 15: UAE vs Oman, Abu Dhabi, 5:30 PM
- Sep 15: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 16: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 17: Pakistan vs UAE, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 18: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 19: India vs Oman, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 20: B1 vs B2, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 21: A1 vs A2, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 23: A2 vs B1, Abu Dhabi, 8:00 PM
- Sep 24: A1 vs B2, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 25: A2 vs B2, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 26: A1 vs B1, Dubai, 8:00 PM
- Sep 28: Final, Dubai, 8:00 PM
Akshay Didwaniya
