Asia Cup 2025 Full Schedule Announced: India vs Pakistan on September 14, Clash Could Happen Thrice

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday confirmed that the 2025 Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28. Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), made the announcement via his official account on social media platform X.

The tournament, returning to the T20 format, will feature eight teams and serve as a crucial build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group, setting up a high-voltage clash on September 14. If both teams progress through the Super Four and reach the final, fans could witness up to three India-Pakistan matches during the tournament.

India-Pakistan Rivalry Set to Reignite

With bilateral cricket ties frozen due to political tensions, matches between India and Pakistan are limited to multi-nation events. This format, which guarantees at least one clash between the two sides, has become a regular feature of recent Asia Cup editions.

The grouping announcement comes amid ongoing diplomatic and cricketing strain between the two nations. Just last week, tensions flared during the World Championship of Legends (WCL)—a veterans’ tournament—after Indian players, including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, the Pathan brothers, and Shikhar Dhawan, pulled out of a scheduled match against Pakistan Champions. The withdrawal followed heavy backlash in India, especially in the wake of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam and subsequent military escalations.

Venues and Key Fixtures

All 19 matches will be hosted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the ACC confirmed. The UAE last hosted the tournament in 2022, and is once again seen as a neutral, logistically feasible venue.

India’s campaign begins on September 10 against UAE, followed by the marquee clash with Pakistan on September 14, and their final group-stage match against Oman on September 19.

Asia Cup 2025 Groups:

• Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman

• Group B: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong

India’s Fixtures:

• September 10: vs UAE

• September 14: vs Pakistan

• September 19: vs Oman

Anticipated Highlights

Undoubtedly, the India vs Pakistan match remains the most anticipated encounter of the tournament. With geopolitical undercurrents often spilling onto the pitch, and the absence of bilateral cricket adding to the intensity, every clash between the arch-rivals captures global attention—regardless of the format.

The last meeting between the two sides came during this year’s Champions Trophy, where Virat Kohli led India to a six-wicket win with a commanding century. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament to lift the title.