Fireworks, full stands, and a statement win—Afghanistan crushed Hong Kong by 94 runs in Abu Dhabi to open the Asia Cup 2025, and the tone is set. The UAE is hosting three packed weeks of T20 cricket from September 9 to 28, using two proven venues: Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Eight sides are in, the format is brisk, and the calendar is friendly to prime-time viewers across Asia.
Today, attention turns to Dubai where India meet the UAE in their tournament opener. All games start at 8:00 PM IST (6:30 PM local time in the UAE), giving fans a consistent slot to plan around. The headline everyone circled months ago? India vs Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai—an evening slugfest that will pull in massive numbers from South Asia to North America and beyond.
Schedule, format and key dates
The competition follows a familiar structure built for clarity and drama. Two groups of four feed into a Super Four round-robin, and the top two from that mini-league contest the final in Dubai on September 28. It’s tight, which means one off day can flip a group, and one strong win can revive a campaign thanks to net run rate.
- Group A: India, Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates
- Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
The group phase is already in motion. Afghanistan’s thumping win in Abu Dhabi—188/6 vs 94/9—has given Group B an early table leader and a big net run rate cushion. Hong Kong, who scrap hard in Associate cricket, will now need to chase wins, not just compete. That’s the reality of a short T20 tournament.
India’s group fixtures are spread neatly across the UAE: UAE (September 10, Dubai), Pakistan (September 14, Dubai), and Oman (September 19, Abu Dhabi). If India qualify, their Super Four games are penciled for September 21, 24, and 26—each slated for Dubai, which simplifies travel and recovery.
Organizers have kept the time slot uniform: 8:00 PM IST. That translates to 6:30 PM in the UAE, 2:30 PM GMT, 10:30 AM ET in the USA, and 3:30 PM BST in the UK. For the September 14 India–Pakistan game, expect those numbers to be plastered on living room calendars worldwide.
The Super Four begins September 21. The top two teams from each group advance to face all three opponents in a round-robin. Early pairings often pit each group winner against the opposite group’s runner-up to balance competitive intensity. The slated Super Four match days are September 21, 23, 24, and 26, all in Dubai. The final is locked for September 28, also in Dubai.
Points and progression stay straightforward:
- Win: 2 points; loss: 0; tie/no result: 1 point.
- Standard tie-breakers: points, then net run rate, then head-to-head where applicable.
- Rain is less likely in September in the UAE, so disruptions should be minimal, but reserve day protocols for knockout games usually apply.
Expect teams to keep one eye on net run rate from day one. Afghanistan’s first-night surge is a good example: early margin matters in a tight group. A single big win or narrow loss can be the difference between a Super Four ticket and an early exit.
The tournament is also timed to the T20 calendar. The Asia Cup switches between ODI and T20 formats depending on the global cycle, and this edition leans into T20 to keep squads tuned for the next burst of short-format international cricket. Coaches will rotate quicks, shield key batters from burnout, and look to sort finishing roles before the crunch games late in the month.
Venues, conditions and the India–Pakistan blockbuster
Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Stadium are known quantities. They staged the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup and multiple Asia Cup editions, and their evening conditions drive a lot of tactical calls.
Dubai, the “Ring of Fire,” usually offers even bounce and a fast outfield. Dew often arrives after sunset, making the ball skid under lights and helping chasing teams. Captains here tend to prefer chasing, especially if there’s a hint of humidity. Seamers who hit the pitch hard get reward early, and wrist-spinners who can bowl into the surface still matter in the middle overs despite dew.
Abu Dhabi can be a touch slower with bigger square boundaries. Batting sides often aim for 150–165 and defend with cutters and back-of-a-length plans into the pitch. If the surface is fresh, scores can climb; if it’s a used strip, batters need to be smart about targeting the shorter side and milking the long square boundaries.
Weather-wise, expect warm evenings and manageable wind. Fatigue is a factor in back-to-back games, so teams with deeper pace stocks and high fitness standards will have an edge. Night games help, but cramp management and recovery windows still matter in the Super Four stretch.
Now to the headliner: India vs Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, 8:00 PM IST. The rivalry is intense, but recent UAE meetings give the narrative some texture. In 2018 (ODI Asia Cup), India beat Pakistan twice in the UAE. In 2022 (T20 Asia Cup), the sides split their meetings—India edged a tight group game; Pakistan hit back in the Super Four. The margins were thin, the endings chaotic, and the dew decisive.
This time, the matchup could pivot on fundamentals we’ve seen decide UAE T20s since 2021:
- Powerplay control: New-ball discipline against high-risk openers. A 40/1 vs 52/3 start can decide the chase before the 10th over.
- Middle-overs spin: Seven overs around the 7th–13th mark often set up the finish. Rotate strike or get stuck—that’s the duel.
- Death-overs clarity: Batting sides need a defined finisher; bowling sides need two yorker/cutter specialists and sharp boundary riders.
- Dew management: If it’s heavy, the team bowling second needs towels, cross-seam options, and fielders drilled for a skidding ball.
India’s week is steady but unforgiving: a home-style opener against the hosts, the blockbuster vs Pakistan, then a potentially tricky Abu Dhabi outing vs Oman. Pakistan’s parallel path features similar traps—an Associate side can spring an upset if allowed 48 stress-free balls in the middle overs. Afghanistan, fresh off that big win, will fancy their chances of topping Group B if their spinners stay on song. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who know these surfaces well, typically squeeze teams with cutters and field placements, especially in evening start times.
For neutral fans, the Super Four phase is where T20 chess starts. Captains will line up matchups: left-arm pace into right-hand heavy top orders, leg-spin at the start of a new batter’s innings, and part-timers hiding one over into a long boundary. Don’t be surprised if we see tactical promotions at No. 3 to attack specific bowlers and short-side angles.
From a logistics angle, the UAE keeps things tight. Two venues, short drives, consistent start times. Dubai likely absorbs the heaviest security and crowd management load, especially on September 14 and through the final week. Ticket demand peaks for evenings and big rivalries, but Abu Dhabi’s early fixtures tend to fill fast when a top seed plays—fans like a day trip, and weekday nights are workable in this window.
Match timings and global windows are set to pull in viewers across continents:
- India Standard Time (IST): 8:00 PM
- UAE local time (GST): 6:30 PM
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 2:30 PM
- Eastern Time (ET): 10:30 AM
- British Summer Time (BST): 3:30 PM
Expect the Dubai final on September 28 to land in the same slot, preserving continuity for broadcasters and fans. Evening starts also keep pitch conditions predictable—reduced afternoon scuff, consistent lights, and a known dew curve. That stability matters for teams building game plans two or three fixtures ahead.
One game in, the patterns are already visible. Afghanistan have banked points and confidence. Hong Kong need a response game to stay alive in a group that punishes slow starts. In Group A, India get first touch of Dubai against the hosts, while Pakistan will scan that outing closely for pace lengths, spin grip, and dew cues before September 14.
Here’s the quick-hit calendar around which most fans will plan:
- Group stage: September 9–20 (across Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
- India fixtures: UAE (Sept 10, Dubai), Pakistan (Sept 14, Dubai), Oman (Sept 19, Abu Dhabi)
- Super Four: September 21, 23, 24, 26 (all in Dubai)
- Final: September 28 (Dubai)
The next two weeks will reward teams that read conditions early, bat with intent in the first six, and stay ice-cold at the death. The venues are ready, the time zones are aligned, and the rivalry everyone’s waiting for has a date and a clock. Buckle up for prime-time cricket in the Gulf.
