Asia Cup 2025: Match Start Times Pushed Back To 8 PM IST Due To UAE Heat

Cricket fans, take note. The Asia Cup 2025 evening matches will now start half an hour later than planned to beat the late-summer heat in the UAE. Eighteen of the 19 games, including India’s fixtures and the final, will begin at 6:30 PM local time, which is 8:00 PM IST. Only one match—UAE vs Oman on September 15 in Abu Dhabi—remains a day game, starting at 4:00 PM local (5:30 PM IST).

What’s changed and why

• New start time: 6:30 PM Gulf Standard Time (8:00 PM IST) for 18 matches.

• Reason: Extreme temperatures forecast across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September; boards and broadcasters aligned to push starts later for player safety and match quality.

• Exception: UAE vs Oman on September 15 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, starts 4:00 PM local (5:30 PM IST) as the tournament’s only day game.

Tournament overview

• Dates: September 9–28

• Format: T20I

• Venues: Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai) and Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi)

• Groups:

  • Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman

  • Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong.

India’s key fixtures and timing

• Sep 10: India vs UAE, Dubai – 6:30 PM local, 8:00 PM IST

• Sep 14: India vs Pakistan, Dubai – 6:30 PM local, 8:00 PM IST

• Sep 19: India vs Oman, Abu Dhabi – 6:30 PM local, 8:00 PM IST
  All three fall under the revised late-evening window to mitigate heat stress and maintain optimal playing conditions under lights.

Full revised timing snapshot

• Most evening games now start at 6:30 PM local (8:00 PM IST) across both cities.

• The revised window applies to league matches, Super Four fixtures, and the final.

• The only non-evening fixture is UAE vs Oman on September 15 at 4:00 PM local (5:30 PM IST) in Abu Dhabi.

What this means for fans

• Prime-time viewing in India: An 8:00 PM IST start is familiar and fan-friendly.

• Cooler conditions should improve on-field intensity and reduce injury risks, which is good news for teams managing heavy late-year workloads.

• The marquee India vs Pakistan clash on September 14 in Dubai is unaffected apart from the 30-minute push to 8:00 PM IST, which should suit TV audiences nationwide