Cricket fans across Asia have a reason to celebrate as the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 approaches. Set to take place from September 9 to 28 in the UAE, the tournament promises high-octane action with eight teams competing across two iconic venues: Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Dubai will host the bulk of the matches, including the potential blockbuster clashes between Pakistan and India, while Abu Dhabi will stage eight games, including a Super Four encounter on September 23. Most matches are scheduled to start at 6 PM Gulf Standard Time, except for the September 15 fixture between UAE and Oman.
The tournament kicks off with a curtain-raiser between Hong Kong and Afghanistan, setting the stage for what is expected to be a thrilling month of cricket.
Group Breakdown and Tournament Format
The eight teams have been split into two groups, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Super Four stage.
Group A: South Asian Rivalries Take Center Stage
- Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf. Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf. Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Hussain Talat
- India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav. Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy
- Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Mohammad Nadeem, Hammad Mirza, Sufyan Yousuf, Vinayak Shukla, Aryan Bisht, Sufyan Mehmood, Ashish Odedera. Karan Sonavale, Zikriya Islam, Faisal Shah, Aamir Kaleem, Shakeel Ahmad, Nadeem Khan, Samay Shrivastava, Hassnain Ali Shah
- UAE: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Haider Ali, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique. Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan
Analysis: Group A is arguably the most competitive, with traditional powerhouses Pakistan and India clashing in a group stage that could set the tone for the Super Four. UAE and Oman, while considered underdogs, have the potential to spring surprises, particularly with their experienced bowling line-ups.
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Group B: A Mix of Experience and Emerging Talent
- Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamil Mishara. Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana
- Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat. Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad. Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Bangladesh: Litton Das (c, wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali. Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain. Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin
- Hong Kong: Yasim Murtaza (c), Babar Hayat (vc), Zeeshan Ali (wk), Shahid Wasif (wk). Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Ehsan Khan, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Ashish Shukla. Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq Ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Adil Mehmood, Anas Khan, Haroon Mohammad Arshad, Ali-Hassan, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed
Analysis: Group B combines cricketing heavyweights and emerging teams. Sri Lanka and Afghanistan bring a blend of experience and aggressive T20 talent. While Bangladesh continues to build momentum under Litton Das’s leadership. Hong Kong will look to punch above their weight and challenge the bigger teams with disciplined bowling and fielding strategies.
Key Players to Watch
- Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman for consistency at the top, Shaheen Shah Afridi as the strike bowler, and Abrar Ahmed’s spin wizardry
- India: Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive batting, Jasprit Bumrah’s death bowling, and Kuldeep Yadav’s spin variations
- Afghanistan: Rashid Khan’s all-round brilliance and Mohammad Nabi’s experience in pressure situations
- Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga’s leg-spin and Chamika Karunaratne’s pace-bowling impact
These players are likely to play a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes of the Super Four stage and ultimately the final.
Schedule Highlights
- All matches (except UAE vs Oman on September 15) start at 6 PM Gulf Standard Time
- Dubai will host both potential Pakistan vs India encounters if both teams progress beyond the group stage
- Abu Dhabi will host eight matches, including a key Super Four clash on September 23
The tournament promises high-intensity encounters, emerging talent performances, and classic rivalries. Making it a must-watch event for cricket enthusiasts across Asia and beyond.
