Asia Cup changes match timings; Here’s the new schedule

Earlier the matches were to start at 7:30 pm, according to Indian time, but now these matches will start at 6:30 pm it means 8 pm according to UAE local time.

New Delhi: The Asia Cup is just about to start and cricket fans are eagerly waiting for this series. Asia Cup will start from 9 September and the final match will be played on 28 September. The timing of the matches has been changed before the tournament.

Earlier the matches were to start at 7:30 pm, according to Indian time, but now these matches will start at 6:30 pm it means 8 pm according to UAE local time. This decision has been taken in view of the heat of the United Arab Emirates.

A total of eight teams will participate in the tournament, which have been divided into two groups. India and Pakistan are in the same group (Group A), which also includes teams from UAE and Oman. At the same time, Group B has teams from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. A total of 19 matches will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Group A:

India

Pakistan

UAE

Oman

Asia Cup starts Sept 9 with matches now at 6:30 PM IST (8 PM UAE time) due to UAE heat. #AsiaCup2023 #Aiscuptimings #Cricket pic.twitter.com/R5aG5re5Zh

— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) August 30, 2025

Group B:

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Afghanistan

Hong Kong

The host of this tournament is the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Due to the current tension between India and Pakistan, both countries have agreed to play matches only at neutral venues until 2027, so the tournament is being held in the UAE. Under this, the Champions Trophy was hosted by Pakistan in March this year, but all the matches were played in Dubai, where India won the championship.

This tournament will be an important competition between the top cricket teams of Asia, in which teams from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other countries will participate.

Change in rules by BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a significant change in its traditional rules for the Asia Cup. Earlier, Indian players used to gather in Mumbai before going on any international tour and then travel collectively.

However, this time BCCI has taken a new decision keeping in mind the convenience and logistics of the players. Now all the players will join the team by reaching Dubai directly from their respective cities. This will reduce travel time and stress.

Team gathering date and training

The 15-member Indian team led by Suryakumar Yadav will reach Dubai by September 4. The team's first net session will be held on September 5 at the ICC Academy, Dubai. According to a senior BCCI official, the main objective of this decision is to improve the travel convenience of the players.

For some players, going to Mumbai first and then flying to Dubai was an unnecessary waste of time, as Dubai flights are direct and fast.