The 17th edition of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup is just around the corner, and cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the action to begin. Scheduled from September 9 to September 28, the tournament will take place in the UAE, with matches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Most games will start at 6:30 PM UAE time, with one double-header day featuring matches at 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
Why the tournament is in the UAE
According to ESPNcricinfo, although India are the official hosts of the tournament, but because of their strained political relations with Pakistan, neither side travels to the other’s country anymore. If India had hosted the event at home, Pakistan’s matches would still have been played at a neutral venue. For that reason, while the BCCI remains the official host, the Asia Cup will be staged entirely in the UAE this time.
A brief history of the Asia Cup
The Asia Cup first began in 1984 with India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka participating. Over time, it has grown into a prestigious tournament, showcasing the best cricketing talent in Asia. Initially played as an ODI event, the tournament has alternated between ODI and T20 formats based on the upcoming World Cup schedule. The last edition in 2023 was an ODI tournament, while this year’s Asia Cup will be in the T20 format, ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Teams participating
Eight teams will take part in this edition. The five mainstays are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, along with UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, who qualified via the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup. Nepal narrowly missed out, losing to UAE in the semi-finals and Hong Kong in the third-place playoff.
Tournament format
The eight teams are divided into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. Each team will play the others in their group once. The top two from each group advance to the Super Four stage, where they face off again. The top two teams from the Super Four will then contest the final on September 28 in Dubai.
India vs Pakistan clash
The India-Pakistan clash is always the highlight of any Asia Cup. Their Group A game is scheduled for September 14 in Dubai, with a possible rematch in the Super Four stage. Interestingly, the two teams have never faced each other in an Asia Cup final before. Despite political tensions preventing bilateral series, India and Pakistan continue to meet regularly in multi-nation events like the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments, keeping the rivalry alive.
Players to watch
India enters this year’s tournament as T20 World Cup 2024 champions and will field a full-strength squad. Young stars like Abhishek Sharma, who already has two T20I centuries, will be under the spotlight. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be without Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, meaning their fresh batting order of Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, and Hasan Nawaz will carry the responsibility. Shaheen Shah Afridi is expected to lead the pace attack. Afghanistan, UAE, and Hong Kong also have players worth watching, such as AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, and Yasim Murtaza, who could make an impact against stronger teams.
Excitement across the board
The Asia Cup has historically produced memorable matches. From Afghanistan’s 91-run win over Sri Lanka in 2018 to Hong Kong almost chasing 286 against India in the same year, the tournament has consistently delivered thrilling contests. In the 2022 T20 Asia Cup, Sri Lanka triumphed against Pakistan in a close final, proving that anything can happen.
This year promises plenty of excitement, new stars, and intense competition. Fans can expect fierce battles, high-scoring encounters, and unforgettable cricketing moments when the tournament begins on September 9.
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