Top Asia Cup 2025 News

The Asia Cup is one of cricket’s most prestigious tournaments, bringing together the top national teams from across Asia to compete for continental glory. Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), it is one of the major tournaments in cricket.

The tournament was first held in 1984 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, which was also home to the ACC headquarters until 1995. The idea behind the competition was to promote goodwill among Asian nations while providing a platform for competitive cricket between the region’s top teams. Since then, the Asia Cup has grown in stature, producing countless memorable moments and intense rivalries.

Format and evolution

Initially, the Asia Cup was played exclusively in the One Day International (ODI) format. However, in 2016, the ACC decided to rotate the tournament format between ODIs and T20 Internationals (T20Is), depending on the format of the upcoming ICC global event. This change was made to help participating teams prepare for the next major tournament.

The 2016 edition was the first to be played in the T20I format, serving as a warm-up for the ICC World T20 that year. Since then, the Asia Cup has alternated between 50-over and 20-over formats, adding variety and newness to each edition.

From 2009 onwards, the tournament has been held every two years. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that all Asia Cup matches carry official ODI or T20I status, depending on the format.

Asia Cup 2025: The 17th edition

The 2025 Men’s Asia Cup will be the 17th edition of the tournament and is scheduled to begin on September 9 and the final scheduled on September 28. Asia Cup 2025 will be jointly hosted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with 11 matches, including the final, taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and the remaining eight games played at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

This year, the competition will be played in the T20I format. A total of eight teams will participate in Asia Cup 2025. The five full members of the ACC: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have automatically qualified. They will be joined by United Arab Emirates, Oman and Hong Kong, who secured their places by finishing in the top three of the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup.

Tournament structure

Unlike some previous editions, the 2025 Asia Cup will feature a new format. The eight teams will be divided into two groups of four. Each team will play the others in its group once, and the top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Four stage.

The Super Four will function as a single group, with each team playing the others. The top two teams from this stage will meet in the final, where the champion of Asia will be crowned.

Historical highlights

Over the years, the Asia Cup has been shaped by iconic rivalries and historic moments. India and Pakistan’s matches have always been the most anticipated fixtures, often drawing millions of viewers worldwide. Political tensions have sometimes affected the tournament with India boycotting the 1986 edition due to strained cricketing ties with Sri Lanka, Pakistan boycotted the 1990–91 edition due to political issues with India, and the 1993 edition was cancelled for similar reasons.

The competition has also seen dominant runs from some teams. India is the most successful nation in Asia Cup history, with eight titles - seven in ODIs and one in T20Is. Sri Lanka follows closely with six titles, while Pakistan has won the trophy twice.

In 2022, the Asia Cup was last played in the T20I format, and Sri Lanka emerged as champions after defeating Pakistan in the final. The 2023 edition, held in the ODI format, saw India lift the trophy.

Stay updated with the latest Asia Cup schedule to know match dates, venues, and key fixtures. Follow the Asia Cup points table for team standings, wins, and qualification updates.

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