The cricketing world is gearing up for one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year — the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE, from September 9 to September 28, 2025. With eight teams, two world-class venues, and a format that promises thrilling encounters, fans are eagerly awaiting this battle of Asian cricketing giants.
Tournament Overview
- Host Country: United Arab Emirates (Dubai & Abu Dhabi)
- Format: T20I, Group Stage → Super Four → Final
- Dates: 9 September – 28 September 2025
- Teams: 8 (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, UAE, Oman)
- Total Matches: 19
The tournament is perfectly placed just before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, making it a crucial preparation ground for all participating nations.
Groups
The teams are divided into two groups of four each:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman
- Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, followed by the much-awaited final in Dubai.
Fixtures
Here is the schedule for the group stage and beyond (all matches are in UAE local time with IST evenings for Indian viewers):
- 9 Sep: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong – Abu Dhabi
- 10 Sep: India vs UAE – Dubai
- 11 Sep: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong – Abu Dhabi
- 12 Sep: Pakistan vs Oman – Dubai
- 13 Sep: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka – Abu Dhabi
- 14 Sep: India vs Pakistan – Dubai
- 15 Sep: UAE vs Oman – Abu Dhabi
- 15 Sep: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong – Dubai
- 16 Sep: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Abu Dhabi
- 17 Sep: Pakistan vs UAE – Dubai
- 18 Sep: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Abu Dhabi
- 19 Sep: India vs Oman – Abu Dhabi
Super Four Stage
- 20 Sep: B1 vs B2 – Dubai
- 21 Sep: A1 vs A2 – Dubai
- 23 Sep: A2 vs B1 – Abu Dhabi
- 24 Sep: A1 vs B2 – Dubai
- 25 Sep: A2 vs B2 – Dubai
- 26 Sep: A1 vs B1 – Dubai
Final
- 28 Sep: Final – Dubai
Full Squads of All Teams
India
- Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
- Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal
India has gone with a blend of experience and youthful exuberance. Suryakumar Yadav leads the team with his attacking mindset, while the presence of Hardik Pandya and Bumrah adds balance and firepower.
Pakistan
- Squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah, Azam Khan, Usama Mir, Khushdil Shah
Pakistan has gone with a power-packed bowling lineup led by Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will be key in providing explosive starts.
Sri Lanka
- Squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana
The defending champions from Asia Cup 2022, Sri Lanka, bring a mix of seasoned campaigners like Kusal Mendis and Hasaranga alongside young fast bowlers such as Pathirana, known for his Lasith Malinga-style action.
Afghanistan
- Squad: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Usman Ghani, Gulbadin Naib
Afghanistan remains a dark horse with Rashid Khan leading from the front. With a lethal spin trio of Rashid, Mujeeb, and Noor Ahmad, they can upset any team on their day.
Bangladesh
- Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (c), Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nurul Hasan (wk), Hasan Mahmud
Bangladesh will rely heavily on Shakib’s leadership and Mustafizur’s death bowling. They are a well-rounded side looking to make an impact after some disappointing campaigns.
Hong Kong
- Squad: Nizakat Khan (c), Yasim Murtaza, Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah, Aizaz Khan, Ehsan Khan, Haroon Arshad, Zeeshan Ali (wk), Scott McKechnie (wk), Nasrulla Rana, Ayush Shukla, Aftab Hussain, Anshuman Rath, Waqas Khan, Ahan Trivedi
Hong Kong, known for their fighting spirit, will hope their experienced players like Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat deliver in high-pressure games.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Squad: Muhammad Waseem (c), Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind (wk), Rohan Mustafa, Basil Hameed, Zahoor Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Aayan Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Aryan Lakra, Junaid Siddique, Sabir Ali, Sultan Ahmed, Asif Khan, Fahad Nawaz
UAE will be banking on home advantage, and with consistent performers like Muhammad Waseem and Vriitya Aravind, they could spring a surprise.
Oman
- Squad: Zeeshan Maqsood (c), Aqib Ilyas, Jatinder Singh, Kashyap Prajapati, Mohammad Nadeem, Kaleemullah, Bilal Khan, Ayaan Khan, Naseem Khushi (wk), Sufyan Mehmood, Khawar Ali, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmed, Shoaib Khan, Rafiullah
Oman will look to punch above their weight, relying on experienced campaigners like Zeeshan Maqsood and Bilal Khan.
Key Matches to Watch Out For
- India vs Pakistan (14 September, Dubai): The mother of all clashes. Expect fireworks when these two giants meet.
- Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (13 September, Abu Dhabi): A subcontinental rivalry that never disappoints.
- Afghanistan vs Bangladesh (16 September): Afghanistan’s spinners against Bangladesh’s batting lineup promises a thriller.
Why This Asia Cup is Special
- Expanded Pool: With 8 teams, the competition is broader and offers Associate nations more exposure.
- T20 Format: Brings unpredictability, ensuring that no team can take the other lightly.
- World Cup Build-Up: Perfect rehearsal for the T20 World Cup 2026.
- Young Leaders: Teams like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are entrusting leadership roles to new captains, signaling a fresh era in Asian cricket.
Predictions
- Favorites: India and Pakistan, given their squad depth.
- Dark Horses: Afghanistan and Sri Lanka — both sides have the balance to go all the way.
- Players to Watch: Rashid Khan (AFG), Suryakumar Yadav (IND), Shaheen Afridi (PAK), Wanindu Hasaranga (SL).
Conclusion
The Asia Cup 2025 T20 Championship is set to be a cricketing carnival that combines passion, rivalry, and nail-biting finishes. With eight competitive teams, rising stars, and the world watching closely, this edition promises to be one of the most exciting in history.
Cricket fans across the globe should buckle up — September 2025 will be all about late-night thrillers, unforgettable performances, and the roar of the Asian crowd echoing through Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
📌 Mark your calendars: September 9 – 28, 2025. The battle for Asian supremacy begins!
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