Asia Cup 2025 to be held in UAE from September 9-28

The 2025 ACC Men’s Asia Cup will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, confirmed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman in a post on X. “We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket! Detailed schedule will be out soon,” he said.
The announcement comes after weeks of speculation, as the tournament—originally slated to be hosted by India—was expected to be relocated due to logistical and political challenges. Despite the venue shift, India is likely to retain official hosting rights.
The decision was finalised during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting held in Dhaka on Thursday, attended by representatives from all 25 member nations. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), initially hesitant due to strained political ties with Bangladesh, eventually joined virtually, represented by Vice-President Rajeev Shukla.
The Asia Cup must conclude ahead of India’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies later in September. Given ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the UAE emerged as a neutral and logistically viable venue, having successfully hosted the Asia Cup under similar circumstances in the past.
The choice mirrors past compromises, such as the hybrid hosting model used for the 2023 Asia Cup and upcoming ICC events, reflecting the growing difficulty of bilateral cricket amid escalating regional tensions—most recently marked by a military clash in May between the two neighbours.