Dubai: In a bid to beat the intense heat, 18 of the 19 matches at the upcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup, including the final, will now start at 6:30 pm local time—30 minutes later than originally scheduled.
With daytime temperatures in the UAE expected to soar into the 40s in September, weather forecasts prompted organizers to adjust all day-night fixtures in the eight-team tournament from 7:30 pm IST (6 pm local time) to 8 pm IST (6:30 pm local time).
The only fixture unaffected by this change is the lone day match between UAE and Oman on September 15 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm IST (4 pm local time).
The tournament kicks off on September 9 in Abu Dhabi with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in the opening match. Dubai will host 11 matches, including the final on September 29, while Abu Dhabi will stage eight games.
Group A features India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. This edition marks the first time the Asia Cup will feature eight teams in the T20I format, aligning with preparations for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
India’s Group A matches include clashes against the UAE and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10 and 14, respectively, and a fixture against Oman at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on September 19.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours, culminating in a final to decide the 17th edition champion. India enters as the defending Asia Cup champions, having beaten Sri Lanka in the 2023 50-over final in Colombo, while Sri Lanka had won the T20I version in 2022 by defeating Pakistan.
