Tournament Details: Dates, Venues, and Format
Duration: September 9–28
Opening Match: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi
Final: Dubai International Stadium, September 28
Venues: Abu Dhabi and Dubai (Sharjah not included)
Format:
Group Stage → Super Four → Final
Group A: India, Pakistan, Oman, UAE
Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
T20 Format Returns
Since 2016, the Asia Cup has alternated between ODIs and T20Is to align with upcoming ICC tournaments.
2023: ODI (before the 50-over World Cup)
2025: T20I (ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Feb 2026)
Why in UAE?
Although the BCCI is the official host, the competition was shifted to a neutral venue due to India-Pakistan’s agreement to avoid bilateral clashes before the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The UAE, with its modern infrastructure and hosting experience, became the practical solution.
Key Players to Watch:
Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh): Key pacer with strong T20 numbers – strike rate 17.5, average 22; enters in good form after series vs Pakistan and Netherlands.
Abhishek Sharma (India): Young top-order batter; highest T20 strike rate (193) with 2 centuries and 2 fifties; breakthrough in India’s competitive lineup.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): World-class T20 all-rounder and captain; nearly a decade of experience; consistent tournament standout.
Hasan Nawaz (Pakistan): Power-hitter solving Pakistan’s strike rate issue; SR 174 with a century and 2 fifties in 16 T20s.
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka): In-form opener; 30+ runs in 8 of last 10 innings, including 3 fifties; crucial to Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup hopes.
Title Holders:
The Asia Cup, founded by the Asian Cricket Council in 1983, debuted in 1984 in the UAE, with India crowned as the first champions in a three-nation ODI contest.
India: 8 titles (most successful)
Sri Lanka: 6 titles
Pakistan: 2 titles
Bangladesh & Afghanistan: yet to win
Interruptions have been frequent due to politics (e.g., 1990 boycott, 1993 cancellation) and Covid-19 (2020), but since 2008, the event has mostly kept its biennial rhythm.
Past Champions:
India: 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2023
Sri Lanka: 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2022
Pakistan: 2000, 2012
