The Asia Cup, set for 9–28 September in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, will now begin half an hour later on most evenings in an effort to keep players and fans out of the worst of the Gulf heat.
“The start time for 18 out of the 19 DP World Asia Cup 2025 matches has been updated. These matches will now begin at 6:30 pm local time (Gulf Standard Time),” the Emirates Cricket Board confirmed on Friday. The only exception is the UAE-Oman fixture on 15 September in Abu Dhabi, which remains a day game, starting at 4 pm.
Why the shift? Early-season temperatures in the Emirates often hover well above 40°C at sunset. Coaches have been quietly concerned about player welfare and the quality of cricket on sticky evenings. A senior ACC official, speaking on background, pointed out that “humidity can be just as draining as the heat itself; the extra thirty minutes should help.”
India open their campaign against the hosts, UAE, in Dubai on 10 September, while the marquee India-Pakistan clash is pencilled in for 14 September at the same venue. Pakistan, India, UAE and Oman make up Group A; Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong slot into Group B. The tournament remains in the T20 format, mirroring what we will see at next year’s global event.
India won’t travel to Pakistan for bilateral cricket these days, but neutral-venue, multi-nation events still bring the old rivals together. “Fans deserve to see the best sides compete, wherever that has to be,” an ACC spokesperson said.
From a playing perspective, later starts may push finishes towards midnight, hardly ideal for families in the stands or for broadcasters back in South Asia. Yet team trainers stress recovery time: “Cooler evenings mean less cramping and fewer soft-tissue niggles,” one physio noted.
Group matches wrap up on 19 September, and the final will be staged under lights in Dubai on 28 September. Whether the slight tweak in timing changes the cricket is debatable, but most involved agree it is a sensible nod to conditions rather than spectacle.
