LAHORE: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday finally decided to hold the entire T20 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates, ending uncertainty over the fate of the continental event amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), confirmed the staging of the event in the UAE.

“I am delighted to confirm the dates of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup-2025 in the UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from Sept 9 to 28. We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket!” Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), wrote in his X message on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the ACC announced the schedule of the Asia Cup.

According to the schedule, arch-rivals Pakistan and India will clash on Sept 14.

Eight teams, divided into two groups of four each, will vie for the continental title. Group ‘A’ includes Pakistan, India, UAE and Oman while Group ‘B’ comprises Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

The event starts on Sept 9 with a match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

Pakistan start their campaign against Oman on Sept 12.

Upon completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each pool will qualify for the Super Four stage.

The top two teams in the standings after the conclusion of the Super Four stage will qualify for the final, scheduled to be held on Sept 28.

Until Saturday, the fate of the Asia Cup was hanging in the balance as the PCB had shown no intention to send its team to India, due to the prevailing political strains between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The tensions reached unprecedented levels after their brief but intense military clash in May in the aftermath of the Pahalgaam attack that killed 26 tourists.

There are also reports that besides Pakistan the BCCI was expecting a refusal also from the Bangladesh Cricket Board because of the rising political tensions that emerged between New Delhi and Dhaka after the toppling of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year amid strong anti-government public protests.

Furthermore, the BCCI decision of not visiting Dhaka to attend ACC’s annual general meeting held in Bangladesh capital on July 24 had somehow increased the chances of Bangladesh’s refusal to send their team to India for the Asia Cup.

So, it is understood that the BCCI -- preferring to steer itself out of all the controversies -- decided to hold the Asia Cup in the UAE instead of using a hybrid model that was adopted for the ICC Champions Trophy staged in Pakistan earlier this year. According to this model, India played all their Trophy games in Dubai, and Pakistan will compete in all the ICC events to be staged in India, at neutral venues.

Pakistan hosted the last Asia Cup — played in 50-over format — in 2023. However, again due to the bilateral political tensions, India did not visit Pakistan and played their matches in Sri Lanka which staged a few other matches of the event.

Complete schedule of Asia Cup:

Sept 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong

Sept 10: India vs UAE

Sept 11: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong

Sept 12: Pakistan vs Oman

Sept 13: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka

Sept 14: India vs Pakistan

Sept 15: UAE vs Oman

Sept 15: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong

Sept 16: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan

Sept 17: Pakistan vs UAE

Sept 18: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan

Sept 19: India vs Oman

Super Four Stage:

Sept 20: B1 vs B2

Sept 21: A1 vs A2

Sept 23: A2 vs B1

Sept 24: A1 vs B2

Sept 25: A2 vs B2

Sept 26: A1 vs B1

Sept 28: Final.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2025