The Asia Cup 2025 is set for a minor but important tweak as tournament organisers have officially altered the start times of matches to counter the scorching September heat in the United Arab Emirates.
Eighteen of the 19 matches — including the much-anticipated final — will now begin at 6:30 PM local time (Gulf Standard Time), half an hour later than the originally announced 6:00 PM starts. This means cricket fans in India will tune in at 8:00 PM IST for all day-night fixtures.
Heat concerns prompt change
With daytime temperatures expected to soar above 40°C in September and remain high until the evenings, cricket boards raised concerns about player safety and on-field conditions. After discussions with broadcasters, the adjustment was approved to give players some relief from extreme conditions.
“Considering the weather patterns in the UAE during September, a slight adjustment was the most practical decision,” a senior tournament official noted.
One match unaffected
The only fixture untouched by this change is the solitary day game between UAE and Oman on September 15 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which will go ahead as originally scheduled.
Tournament opener
The Asia Cup kicks off on September 9 in Abu Dhabi, with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in the tournament opener. From there, action will roll across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah as eight teams battle for continental glory.
Updated Match Timing (Day-Night Games)
| Country | Time Zone | Match Time (Day-Night) |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Gulf Standard Time (GST, UTC+4) | 6:30 PM |
| India | Indian Standard Time (IST, UTC+5:30) | 8:00 PM |
| Pakistan | Pakistan Standard Time (PST, UTC+5) | 7:30 PM |
| Afghanistan | Afghanistan Time (AFT, UTC+4:30) | 7:00 PM |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST, UTC+5:30) | 8:00 PM |
| Bangladesh | Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6) | 9:00 PM |
| Nepal | Nepal Time (NPT, UTC+5:45) | 8:15 PM |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Time (HKT, UTC+8) | 10:30 PM |
