Asia Cup Matches Rescheduled To Beat UAE’s Extreme Daytime Heat

In a move aimed at ensuring player safety and comfort, the start time for 18 of the 19 matches in the upcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup, including the final, has been pushed back by 30 minutes.

The matches will now commence at 6:30 PM local time, instead of the originally scheduled 6:00 PM.

The extreme daytime temperatures in the UAE, with weather forecasts predicting highs in the 40s during September, have driven this change.

To mitigate the sweltering heat, all day-night fixtures in the eight-team competition, rescheduled from 7:30 PM IST (6 PM local time) to 8:00 PM IST (6:30 PM local time).

The only exception to this timing adjustment is the September 15 match between UAE and Oman, which remains a daytime fixture, starting at 5:30 PM IST (4:00 PM local time).

The tournament, set to begin on 9 September in Abu Dhabi, will see Afghanistan face Hong Kong in the opening match.

Dubai will host 11 of the competition’s games, including the final on 29 September, while Abu Dhabi will stage eight matches.

The eight-team format, designed to prepare teams for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, will feature India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman in Group A, and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong in Group B.

India will play their Group A matches against the UAE and Pakistan, with the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan scheduled for September 14 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India will also face Oman on 19 September at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours, with the final match determining the winner of the 17th edition of the Asia Cup.

India are the defending champions, having triumphed over Sri Lanka in the 2023 final.