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Asia Cup 2025 to Be Hosted in UAE from September 9 to 28, Confirms ACC President Mohsin Naqvi
Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the UAE from Sept 9–28, confirms ACC President Mohsin Naqvi. Political tensions force neutral venue again. Detailed schedule coming soon.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-26
Asia Cup 2025 to Be Hosted in UAE from September 9 to 28, Confirms ACC President Mohsin Naqvi

The Asia Cricket Council (ACC) has officially announced that the Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. The confirmation came from ACC President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday.

Taking to social media platform X, Naqvi stated, “I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th. We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket! Detailed schedule will be out soon.”

The announcement solidifies what had long been speculated — that the UAE would serve as the neutral venue for the high-profile continental tournament, amid escalating political tensions in South Asia, particularly between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

The Asia Cup was originally scheduled to be hosted by India, but logistical complications and strained diplomatic ties with Pakistan led to the decision to shift the venue. Despite the change, India is expected to retain the official hosting rights.

The decision was finalized during the ACC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Dhaka on Thursday, which saw participation from all 25 member nations, either in person or virtually. Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which had initially considered boycotting the meeting due to political disputes with Bangladesh, eventually attended online, with BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla representing the board.

The UAE, with its proven track record of hosting multi-nation cricket tournaments under neutral conditions — including the 2023 Asia Cup and several ICC events — was seen as the most viable option given the regional tensions.

This year’s Asia Cup must conclude before India begins its Test series against the West Indies later in September, adding pressure on the ACC to finalize the schedule swiftly.

The use of a neutral venue has become an increasingly common solution in South Asian cricket due to the ongoing political impasse between India and Pakistan. Following a military confrontation in May, bilateral cricket relations between the two countries remain on ice. Both the BCCI and PCB are reportedly unwilling to send their teams to each other’s territories, making the UAE a practical compromise for ensuring the tournament proceeds smoothly.

A detailed match schedule, participating teams’ fixtures, and venue breakdowns are expected to be released by the ACC in the coming weeks.

Cricket fans across Asia and the world now await what promises to be another electrifying edition of the Asia Cup — one that not only showcases regional cricketing talent but also navigates the delicate balance of sports and geopolitics.
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