Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Tuesday, 9 September 2025 02:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 17th edition of the Asia Cup for the fifth time, and for the third time in the last four editions largely due to the tension that exists between India and Pakistan. In fact the hosts of the 2025 edition is India, but due to Pakistan not being given the permission to travel to that country UAE has become the neutral venue.
There was a time when the front runners for the Asia Cup were just three countries India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan who have shared the spoils with India winning it on 8 occasions, Sri Lanka 6 and Pakistan twice, even though there were other teams in competition. That was when the Asia Cup matches were 50-overs a side.
But over time with the advent of T20 cricket other associate countries have joined making the tournament more competitive and attractive.
Till 2014 the Asia Cup was played in a 50-over format. In 2015 after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was downsized by the ICC it was announced that the Asia Cup would be played in ODI and T20I formats. Thus in 2016, the first tournament in T20 format was played between five teams ahead of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup. It was hosted by Bangladesh who reached the final but lost to India by 8 wickets.
The second tournament to be played in the T20 format was hosted by UAE in 2022 as a prelude to the 2024 T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the final to win the Asia Cup. The 2025 edition will be the third to be played in this format. It will serve as a run-up to the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026.
The first edition of the Asia Cup took place in Sharjah in 1984 with only India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan participating. With India pulling out of the 1986 tournament hosted by Sri Lanka, Bangladesh made their first appearance. Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined the competition in 2004 when Sri Lanka hosted it once again making it a six-team event played to a new format of Group Stage, Super Fours and the Final. Afghanistan made their maiden appearance in the tournament in 2014. Nepal made their debut in 2023 when for the first time the Asia Cup was co-hosted by multiple countries due to India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan who were the hosts. Four matches were played in Pakistan and the remaining nine matches in Sri Lanka. Oman will make their debut in the upcoming tournament becoming the ninth country to appear in Asia Cup history.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be the venues for the 2025 Asia Cup. Abu Dhabi will host the curtain-raiser match of the tournament between Afghanistan and Hong Kong today with play commencing at 6.30 p.m. local time here (8 p.m. in Sri Lanka). All matches commence at this time except the UAE v Oman game on 15 September at 5.30 p.m. as it is a double-header with Sri Lanka playing Hong Kong on the same day at 8 p.m.
India are the current champions having defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final played at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in 2023. India start off as favourites to retain the Cup in the 2025 edition which features 8 teams. Bangladesh and Afghanistan are two other countries who will be making an attempt to lay their hands on the Asia Cup for the first time. Sri Lanka are grouped with them and have a tough task of trying to finish among the top two of their group to qualify for the Super Fours.
Sri Lanka’s T20I form has been rather up and down lacking the consistency to make them strong contenders. They will have to lift their game and the subcontinent-like conditions in the UAE may suit them. Pakistan on their day can be unbeatable but like Sri Lanka lack the stability. Associate members Hong Kong, UAE and Oman will gain a lot from playing against the established sides and could even cause a few shocks as they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Groupings
GROUP A: India, Oman, Pakistan, UAE
GROUP B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka
Match Officials
Match Referees: Richie Richardson (WI) and Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
Umpires: Ahmad Pakteen (Afghanistan), Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh), Izatullah Safi (Afghanistan), Masudur Rahman (Bangladesh), Raveendra Wimalasiri (Sri Lanka), Rohan Pandit (India), Ruchira Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka), and Virender Sharma (India).
The good news for Sri Lanka ahead of the Asia Cup is that their leading spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has recovered from his hamstring injury and is fit for selection.
Hasaranga was named in Sri Lanka’s 16 with the tag of subject to fitness leaving a question mark against his availability. However Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya confirmed that Hasaranga is fit and will be part of the squad for the Asia Cup.
Hasaranga missed the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and the tour to Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka won the two-match ODI series 2-0 and the three-match T20I series 2-1.
In Hasaranga’s absence Maheesh Theekshana who had to bear the brunt of the spin attack in Zimbabwe proved quite ineffective during the ODI and T20I series where he was able to capture only two wickets and was eventually left out of the final T20I which Sri Lanka won handsomely by 8 wickets to clinch the series.
Wanindu Hasaranga will spearhead Sri Lanka’s spin department
Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s downfall in the second T20I where they were shot out for their second lowest T20I total – 80, Jayasuriya admitted that they had misread the wicket and it was too late for them to make the adjustment.
“We were of the view it would be a good batting track as this was the same wicket used for the first ODI, but the wicket turned out to be two-paced,” said Jayasuriya.
“Definitely the boys were disappointed with their batting performance. We had a long chat about it and I told them to put everything that has happened behind them and go and play positive cricket in the third and final match. If the ball was in your zone to be hit to do so. It was a good morale-boosting win for us and it gave us the series.”
Speaking of the two batsmen who carried Sri Lanka to victory, Jayasuriya said, “Kamil Mishara played a totally different game to the previous one and he showed what he is capable of. Kusal Perera, after being dropped for the second game, was recalled for the third and batting in the no. 4 position brought out all his experience to help Mishara play a splendid innings.”
Jayasuriya said that they had to give Mishara who batted at no. 3 and Perera at no. 4 more time to establish themselves in their positions. Perera was earlier batting at no.3 and was consistently failing.
“The partnership that Mishara and KJP put together would not have been possible if the openers Pathum (Nissanka) and Kusal (Mendis) had not given them the start by posting 58 inside the power play.”
Dushan Hemantha proved an ideal substitute for Hasaranga in Zimbabwe
Jayasuriya was all praise for the bowling of Dushmantha Chameera who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 8 wickets and was named the Player of the Series. “He was outstanding; he achieved the breakthroughs for us.”
Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha also came in for praise for the way he contained the batsmen and picked up wickets. He also showed his prowess with the bat helping Sri Lanka to win the first T20I partnering Kamindu Mendis in a crucial partnership.
The fielding and catching left much to be desired and Jayasuriya said that they have been working in this area very hard and it had to be improved individually by the fielder.
Sri Lanka left Harare yesterday for Abu Dhabi where they will play their first match of the Asia Cup against Bangladesh on 13 September.
