The match start timings for the Asia Cup 2025, to be held in the United Arab Emirates, have been changed. Here are the reasons.
The 17th edition of the Asia Cup will be played in the United Arab Emirates from September 9. With less than two weeks remaining for the tournament opener between Afghanistan and Hong Kong, the schedule underwent a change. The start times for the majority of the matches have been pushed back by half an hour.
The only exception is the Group A fixture between the UAE and Oman on September 15, which will start at 4:00 PM local time in Abu Dhabi.
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Why the last-minute changes to the Asia Cup match timings?
"The start time for 18 out of the 19 DP World Asia Cup 2025 matches has been updated. These matches will now begin at 6:30pm local time (Gulf Standard Time)," the Emirates Cricket Board confirmed in an official release on their website.
It added: "The Monday, 15 September match between UAE and Oman will start at 4:00pm local time at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – the only day game of the tournament."
While the changes were confirmed, the exact reason was not mentioned in the official Emirates Cricket Board statement. However, multiple reports suggested the decision was made due to the uncomfortable heat in the Gulf region during the daytime. This adjustment would allow fans to attend matches in cooler conditions. It would also provide better viewership in key regions like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian nations, as matches shift to primetime slots.
According to Weather Spark, the hot season in Abu Dhabi – one of the venues for the tournament – lasts for 4.2 months and will overlap with the schedule of the Asia Cup, which will be played between September 9 and 28. During this period, temperatures during the daytime typically hover around 40 degrees Celsius. The previous start time of 6:00 PM local time fell within some of the hottest hours of the day, with Weather Spark terming conditions at that time as "sweltering". Dubai, the other venue, which is about a 90-minute drive away, is likely to have identical temperatures.
Revised Asia Cup 2025 schedule
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