Tag: Asia Cup 2025

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha brushed aside suggestions of toning down emotions when his side faces India in the Asia Cup 2025, saying he doesn’t believe in curbing aggression on the field.

With the highly anticipated Pakistan–India clash always carrying extra pressure, Agha was asked if he had given his players any special instructions to control their temper.

“Aggression is part of the game. Every player is different in how they express it,” he said during the captain’s press conference.

“Fast bowlers are usually hot-headed, and if they want to be aggressive, they should be. That’s the fun of cricket. I don’t give any special instructions to hide or avoid aggression, as long as it remains within the ground,” he added.

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Pakistan came into the Asia Cup having recently won the tri-series in the UAE with Afghanistan and the hosts, something Salman Ali Agha believes was key preparation for the continental tournament.

“This is an important event for us. We’ve been playing good cricket for the past few months, and this is the first major tournament for many of our players. We’re excited, and our main goal is to win the Asia Cup,” he added.

“In this format, the game can change in one or two overs. That’s why no team can be considered a favorite.”

READ: Shreyas Iyer breaks silence on Asia Cup 2025 snub

India batter Shreyas Iyer has opened up about his disappointment at missing out on the 15-member squad for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup 2025, admitting he felt “frustrated” but remains determined to bounce back stronger.

Speaking on a local Indian podcast, Iyer said he initially struggled to accept the exclusion, especially given his recent performances, but has since chosen to focus on the bigger picture.

“It is only frustrating when you know you deserve to be in the team, in the playing XI. That time, it was frustrating,” Iyer said.

“But at the same time, when someone is performing consistently for the team, you support them. Eventually, the goal is for the team to win, and when the team is winning, everyone is happy.”

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The right-hander stressed that setbacks won’t affect his work ethic, emphasising that preparation is as important as match-day execution.

“If you don’t get a chance, you have to see to it that you do your work ethically. It’s not like you have to perform only when someone is watching. When you prepare yourself in a certain manner, whatever happens on the ground is just a reflection of what you do off the field,” he explained.

Shreyas Iyer added that consistent preparation always pays off in the long run.

“If your prep is good and you don’t perform in one or two games, in the third game, you are definitely going to perform. I have experienced this,” he concluded.

READ: Hong Kong’s Nizakat Khan recalls 2014 upset, targets fresh shock in Asia Cup 2025

ABU DHABI: Hong Kong all-rounder Nizakat Khan believes his side has what it takes to cause an upset in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, drawing parallels with their famous victory over Bangladesh more than a decade ago.

Hong Kong will open their campaign later today against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, before taking on Bangladesh on September 11.

Speaking ahead of the tournament opener, Nizakat reflected on the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup in Chattogram, where Hong Kong stunned hosts Bangladesh by two wickets in front of a packed home crowd.

Nizakat had played a decisive role that night, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs and contributing with the bat.

“That was very special. Beating Bangladesh in Bangladesh is never easy. I still remember that game clearly,” Nizakat recalled.

“At one point, they looked set, but we pulled it back with spin and then chased it down. It was a very memorable win for us.”

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The veteran also highlighted his own performance, including the key wicket of Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim.

“I bowled really well in partnership with Nadeem Ahmad, and that’s where their batting collapsed. From there, we turned the game,” he added.

Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, Nizakat Khan insisted Hong Kong have the belief and the players to spring a surprise again.

“In T20 cricket, anything can happen on the day. If someone bats or bowls exceptionally, the game can turn. We have that confidence, and I’m really looking forward to facing Bangladesh again,” he said.

Nizakat also praised captain Yasim Murtaza’s leadership, citing his vast domestic and international experience.

“He’s been very supportive and brings great experience from Pakistan and the UK. I have full confidence he’ll do a fantastic job leading the team,” Nizakat added.

READ: Final squads announced for ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025

The ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 is right around the corner, with all the participating teams having announced their squads.

The continental tournament is set to take place across two venues, Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, in the UAE from September 9 to 28.

Abu Dhabi will stage eight matches, including one Super Four clash on September 23, while Dubai will host the majority of the games, including both high-voltage Pakistan-India clashes if the two sides progress beyond the group stage.

All matches will begin at 6 PM Gulf Standard Time, barring the September 15 fixture between the UAE and Oman.

The curtain raiser of the Asia Cup 2025 will be played between Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

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The eight teams are divided into two groups, with Group A featuring arch-rivals Pakistan and India alongside Oman and the UAE. Group B includes Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.

Squads for Asia Cup 2025

Group A

Pakistan: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

Oman: Jatinder Singh (captain), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla, Sufyan Yousuf, Ashish Odedera, Aamir Kaleem, Mohammad Nadeem, Sufyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht, Karan Sonavale, Zikriya Islam, Hassnain Ali Shah, Faisal Shah, Mohammad Imran, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, Samay Shrivastava.

UAE: Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan.

Group B 

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Bangladesh: Litton Das (capt, wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin

Hong Kong: Yasim Murtaza (C), Babar Hayat (VC), Zeeshan Ali (WK), Shahid Wasif (WK), Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Ehsan Khan, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Ashish Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq Ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Adil Mehmood, Anas Khan, Haroon Mohammad Arshad, Ali-Hassan, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.

READ: Two Pakistan players named in Quinton de Kock’s all-time left-handers’ XI

SHARJAH: Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has shared his thoughts on the national team’s recent performances in the build-up to the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, slated to commence tomorrow.

Pakistan is coming off a tri-series final triumph over Afghanistan, proving a timely confidence booster for the team ahead of the continental tournament.

Mike Hesson praised Pakistan team performances and expressed confidence during a preview session on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) YouTube channel.

“I’m pleased with the way the team is progressing. I think we’re not the finished product yet, but to win, 10 out of 14 games is a good start,” Hesson stated.

“It took us a heck of a long time to win 10 games leading up to this. We’ve beaten Afghanistan and conditions that certainly suit their spin attack. So that was uh a confidence builder for the group and to win a final where there’s a bit of
pressure on the line,” he added.

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The 50-year-old highlighted the progress of the newly built team and their adaptability in the tri-series.

“We are still a developing side, not yet the finished product, but the progress is encouraging. One of the important aspects of the Tri-Series was adapting to four different pitches,” Hesson elaborated.

He further lauded Fakhar Zaman’s and Mohammad Nawaz’s vital contributions for the Pakistan team in the tri-series.

“Fakhar has steadily improved throughout the tri-series, gaining confidence after coming back from injury. His 77 not out was an important knock, not just for him but for the team as well, given the lack of top-order experience.

Mohammad Nawaz, meanwhile, has been exceptional. He has been outstanding with bat, ball, and in the field. Statistically, he is the best-performing T20 bowler in world cricket this year, and he has added power-hitting value at number six or seven, ” Hesson said.

Mike Hesson emphasized the Asia Cup 2025 and team goals, noting that their first goal is to qualify for the next round.

“The key for us is to stay focused on one game at a time, without letting external pressures affect concentration. The goal is first to qualify for the Super Four, then to play consistently well to progress further. If we continue to focus on each match, we’ll give ourselves the best chance of success,” he concluded.

READ: Match officials for Asia Cup 2025 group stage fixtures revealed

DUBAI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Monday revealed the match officials for the Asia Cup 2025 group stage fixtures, which are set to commence tomorrow in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Experienced match referees Richie Richardson and Andy Pycroft will take charge of the official team in the marquee event. The opening match of the event will be played between Afghanistan and Hong Kong China at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

The match officials’ list for the Super Four and the tournament final will be announced later.

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For the event’s blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan, Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Masudur Rahman will officiate the match as on-field umpires, whereas Ahmad Pakteen and Izatullah Safi will hold the responsibilities of TV umpire.

Any Pycroft will serve as the match referee for the summit clash of the event.

For the unversed, this year’s Asia Cup, the 15th edition of the men’s event, will be staged in the T20 format with eight participating nations: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, UAE, and Hong Kong.

Pakistan and India headline Group A alongside hosts UAE and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

Match Officials For Asia Cup 2025 Group Stage Fixtures:

Umpires: Ahmad Pakteen, Asif Yaqoob, Faisal Afridi, Gazi Sohel, Izatullah Safi, Masudur Rahman, Raveendra Wimalasiri, Rohan Pandit, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, and Virender Sharma.

Match referees: Andrew Pycroft,Richie Richardson

READ: Nawaz demolishes Afghanistan as Pakistan clinch tri-series title

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricketers Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul have shared their thoughts on the forthcoming high-octane clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025.

The match is scheduled to be played on September 14 at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, with both teams facing each other for the first time since the escalation in May 2025.

Speaking during a private event in the metropolitan city, former wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal expressed concerns over Pakistan’s team combination and shed light on the marquee clash against India.

“India team is looking very strong on paper. I wish Pakistan could win against India, but the national team will have to work hard for that,” he said.

“The bowling unit is not looking complete according to the conditions, he said. “If spinners won’t be played in these conditions, then where will they play?”

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He pointed out that Pakistan is playing with just three frontline bowlers, which could be costly.

“Afghanistan beat us, and the UAE gifted us a match. Mistakes like these cannot be repeated in the Asia Cup. Pakistan will need to defeat not only smaller teams but also stronger sides to succeed,” he remarked.

Kamran Akmal also highlighted the wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris’ batting position and Saim Ayub’s role in the team.

“Haris’ advantage is only in the top three positions. Saim Ayub should bat for the next four to five years, and after that, he should contribute with his bowling,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Umar Gul also admitted that the Indian team is looking strong, noting that in T20 cricket, a single player could turn the match on its head.

“We should support the Pakistan team. The Indian team looks strong, but it is reminded that in T20 cricket, a single good batting or bowling performance can turn the match,” Gul said.

Gul emphasized that in Pakistan’s history, major tournament victories have always been achieved through strong bowling, and emphasized the absence of key players for both teams.

“All the major tournaments won have been won by bowlers. Fans will surely miss stars like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma in this event,” said the 42-year-old.

READ: BCCI clarifies stance on India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified its position regarding the national team’s Asia Cup 2025 fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has recently reiterated that the board strictly follows the central government’s policy and that there is no restriction on participation in multinational tournaments.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet on September 14 in Dubai during the Asia Cup 2025. However, calls for a boycott from certain former cricketers and fans in India had sparked debate around the high-profile clash.

Speaking to Indian media, Saikia dismissed the concerns and explained that the board’s approach is guided entirely by the government.

“The current policy clearly states there is no restriction on playing against countries with which India does not share friendly ties,” Saikia said.

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“As far as BCCI is concerned, we have to follow whatever the central government formalises. Therefore, India has to play all its matches in multinational tournaments.”

Saikia further underlined that the government’s directive covers all sports, not just cricket, ensuring consistency across disciplines.

“In events like the Asia Cup or ICC tournaments, India is required to participate regardless of diplomatic equations. However, for bilateral cricket, we do not play against hostile nations,” he explained.

He also cautioned that refusing to play scheduled matches in multinational tournaments could invite sanctions.

“We are aligned with the policy framed by the Government of India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The policy is clear, and the BCCI is fully committed to adhering to it,” Saikia concluded.

READ: PCB reveal schedule for all-format series against South Africa

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, insisting that he should feature in the starting XI for the ACC Asia Cup 2025 rather than remain in the reserves.

Speaking to Indian media on Friday, Gavaskar said excluding a player of Samson’s calibre would be a mistake, stressing his ability to adapt across the batting order.

“If you include Sanju Samson in the core squad, then you can’t have him sitting in the reserves,” Gavaskar said. “He’s someone who can bat at number three if needed, or even drop down the order as a finisher.”

The legendary opener acknowledged that India also has options in Jitesh Sharma, who impressed during the latest IPL season, but called it a “good headache” for the selectors.

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“My feeling is that Samson might get the nod ahead of Jitesh for the first couple of games, and then it depends on his form for the rest of the tournament,” Sunil Gavaskar predicted.

He also suggested that the management could experiment with Samson at number three, leaving Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya to provide finishing power in the middle and lower order.

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the UAE in Dubai, before facing arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson.

READ: Babar Azam named in PCB’s red-ball training camp for South Africa series

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have unveiled their 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, with Muhammad Waseem continuing as captain.

Pacer Matiullah Khan and left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh have earned recalls, while the rest of the squad remains unchanged from the ongoing T20I tri-series.

Matiullah, 32, last featured for the UAE in July’s Pearl of Africa Series against Nigeria, having played one ODI and five T20Is to date.

Simranjeet, 35, brings added experience with five ODIs and 11 T20Is under his belt, most recently appearing in the Gulf T20I Championship in December 2023.

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This will be the UAE’s first Asia Cup campaign since 2016, when they featured in the T20I edition staged in Bangladesh.

The 2025 tournament will see eight teams divided into two groups. Pakistan, India, UAE, and Oman form Group A, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.

UAE begin their campaign against India on September 10, face Oman on September 15, and close out the group stage against Pakistan on September 17.

The tournament starts on September 9 with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in the opener.

UAE squad for Asia Cup 2025

Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan.

READ: Schedule of South Africa’s tour of Pakistan revealed: sources