The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has made an important update to the match timings for the DP World Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. In a bid to avoid the intense heat in Dubai, 18 out of the 19 matches will now start at 6:30 PM Gulf Standard Time (GST), which is 8:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).

The only exception is the Monday, 15 September match between UAE and Oman, which will start earlier at 4:00 PM GST (5:30 PM IST) at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium. This will be the only day match of the tournament, with all others set to be played under the lights in the cooler evening hours.

The revised schedule, which was adjusted in consultation with broadcasters and venue partners, aims to ensure better viewing experiences for fans in South Asia while also keeping the players comfortable in the cooler evening temperatures of the Gulf region. This change also ensures better primetime viewership across key cricket-loving nations.

The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup will feature eight teams, divided into two groups:

Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman

Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong

Each team will play against the others in their group once, and the top two teams from each group will move on to the Super 4 stage. The Super 4 will see each qualifier facing off against the other three teams, and the top two from that round will proceed to the final, scheduled for Sunday, 28 September, in Dubai. If weather disrupts the final, a reserve day is set for Monday, 29 September.

Here’s the revised schedule in IST:

Group Stage:

Tuesday, 9 September: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Wednesday, 10 September: India vs UAE, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Thursday, 11 September: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Friday, 12 September: Pakistan vs Oman, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Saturday, 13 September: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Sunday, 14 September: India vs Pakistan, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Monday, 15 September: UAE vs Oman, Abu Dhabi – 5:30 PM IST (earlier start)

Monday, 15 September: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Tuesday, 16 September: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Wednesday, 17 September: Pakistan vs UAE, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Thursday, 18 September: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Friday, 19 September: India vs Oman, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Super 4 Phase:

Saturday, 20 September: B1 vs B2, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Sunday, 21 September: A1 vs A2, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Monday, 22 September: Rest Day

Tuesday, 23 September: A2 vs B1, Abu Dhabi – 8:00 PM IST

Wednesday, 24 September: A1 vs B2, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Thursday, 25 September: A2 vs B2, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Friday, 26 September: A1 vs B1, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Saturday, 27 September: Rest Day

Sunday, 28 September: Final, Dubai – 8:00 PM IST

Monday, 29 September: Reserve Day

This updated schedule ensures a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for fans and players alike, keeping the region’s extreme heat in mind. With the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy just around the corner, every match in the Asia Cup will be a crucial opportunity for teams to build momentum and form.