Why in news?
The seventeenth edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament concluded on 28 September 2025 in the United Arab Emirates. India defeated Pakistan in the final to retain the title, prompting celebrations and discussions about the tournament’s highlights.
Tournament overview
- Dates and format: Played from 9 to 28 September 2025, the competition used the Twenty20 International format. The tournament comprised a group stage, a Super Four round and a final.
- Teams: Eight nations participated. The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka—automatically qualified. United Arab Emirates, Oman and Hong Kong joined after finishing atop the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup.
- Group division: Group A included India, Pakistan, Oman and the UAE. Group B comprised Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
- Venues: Matches were held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Key moments
- India vs Pakistan: The arch‑rivals met on 14 September in the group stage and again on 21 September in the Super Four. In both encounters India prevailed, thanks to disciplined bowling and explosive batting.
- Super Four drama: The top two teams from each group entered the Super Four round. Close matches among India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan kept fans on edge until the final standings.
- Final: India chased down Pakistan’s total with five wickets in hand to win its ninth Asia Cup title. Abhishek Sharma was named player of the series for scoring 314 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav took the most wickets (17).
Significance
The 2025 Asia Cup showcased the growing competitiveness of associate nations like Oman and the UAE, who tested more established teams. The successful organisation in the UAE demonstrated the region’s capacity to host major tournaments despite political tensions among participating countries. For India, retaining the title reinforced its depth in the T20 format ahead of the ICC World T20.