Asia Cup 2025 Countdown Begins as Schedule Announcement Looms

The much-anticipated 2025 Asia Cup is finally on course for lift-off, with a formal schedule announcement expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.

According to sources in foreign media, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has cleared the final logistical and commercial hurdles, setting the stage for the tournament to be held from September 10 to 28, most likely in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

After months of uncertainty and tense backroom dealings, especially following a contentious ACC meeting in Dhaka earlier this week, progress appears to have been made on all fronts. While the meeting itself was held amid geopolitical strain, particularly involving India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, it ended with a broad consensus that the tournament must go ahead as planned.

Though India remains the designated host under the ACC’s rotational policy, the matches will be staged in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, much like the hybrid hosting model used in recent years. The tournament will be played in the T20 format, in line with the build-up to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting.

Eight teams are scheduled to participate in the 2025 Asia Cup, with India, Pakistan, UAE, and Hong Kong in Group A, and Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Oman in Group B.

The structure includes 19 matches, with group stages followed by a Super Four stage and a final.

The final call on the official Asia Cup schedule still rests with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has been working to resolve outstanding issues with commercial partners. Once those agreements are in place, the schedule is expected to be made public via the official ACC channels.

Despite the tensions surrounding its planning, the Asia Cup 2025 now seems firmly on the rails, with cricket fans around the continent bracing for another chapter in one of the game’s most storied regional tournaments.