Cricket fans are buzzing as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced that arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off in Dubai on September 14, 2025, as part of the Asia Cup.
The UAE Set to Host Major Cricket Action
The 2025 Asia Cup is set to bring thrilling T20 international cricket to the United Arab Emirates. A total of 19 matches will be played across two world-class venues: Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Dubai will host 11 of these exciting encounters, while Abu Dhabi is slated to hold eight. This announcement finally confirms the venues after the schedule was released earlier.
Teams and Groupings Revealed
Eight nations will compete for continental supremacy in the Asia Cup. These include powerhouses India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman.
The teams have been divided into two groups. Group A features India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, setting up an eagerly anticipated clash early in the tournament. Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
Despite India being the designated hosts for this edition, all matches will be played in the UAE, a decision that has become common for multi-nation tournaments involving certain rivalries.
India vs. Pakistan: A Rivalry Reignited
The upcoming match between India and Pakistan is highly anticipated, given their storied history. Their last One-Day International (ODI) encounter was during the Champions Trophy, also in the UAE, where India secured a six-wicket victory with Virat Kohli scoring a century.
More recently, the two sides met in the T20 format during the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York. In that nail-biting encounter, a Rohit Sharma-led Indian team edged out their rivals by just six runs.
T20 Format Returns Ahead of World Cup
The 2025 Asia Cup will revert to the T20 format, a strategic move by the ACC. This change comes ahead of the next T20 World Cup iteration, which is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka. The previous Asia Cup edition, played in 2023, was in the ODI format, serving as preparation for the Cricket World Cup, which India ultimately won.
Potential for More Showdowns
Cricket fans might get to witness more than one India-Pakistan match in the tournament. The ACC statement highlighted the potential for additional encounters during the Super Four stage and, potentially, the final, adding to the excitement.
However, the prospect of India and Pakistan playing has not been without controversy. Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary raised concerns following a terror attack in Pahalgam, questioning the timing and appropriateness of such a match given the prevailing tensions.
These sentiments echo a previous decision by the BCCI, which withdrew from the Women’s Asia Cup for emerging players last month due to escalated hostilities, preventing a scheduled match between the two nations.
- The 2025 Asia Cup will feature India vs. Pakistan in Dubai on September 14.
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi will host 19 T20 matches in total.
- India and Pakistan are grouped with UAE and Oman in Group A.
- The tournament returns to the T20 format ahead of the next T20 World Cup.
- There’s a strong possibility of multiple India-Pakistan clashes beyond the group stage.
This Asia Cup promises not only high-stakes cricket but also the continuation of one of sport’s most intense rivalries on a global stage.
