ABU DHABI: The trophy of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 was unveiled on Tuesday by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, marking the start of the eagerly awaited eight-nation tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Captains of all participating teams attended the ceremony, further raising anticipation for three weeks of top-flight cricket across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The opening match will see Afghanistan take on Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi later today.

The tournament will be staged at two venues — Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. Abu Dhabi is set to host eight matches, including a Super Four fixture on September 23, while Dubai will stage most of the games, including the high-profile Pakistan-India encounters, should the arch-rivals progress beyond the group stage.

Pakistan, buoyed by their recent tri-nation series triumph, are drawn in Group A alongside India, Oman, and hosts UAE. The national side will begin their campaign on September 12 against Oman in Dubai, followed by the marquee clash against India on September 14, before wrapping up their group stage fixtures on September 17 against the UAE.

India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav said his side was “equally excited” for the Asia Cup, noting the unpredictability of the format where “any team can deliver an extraordinary performance.”

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Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The top two teams from each group will move to the Super Four stage, with the final scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.

All matches are slated for 6pm Gulf Standard Time (7pm PST), except for the September 15 fixture between the UAE and Oman.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram, meanwhile, urged players and supporters to remain disciplined during the high-voltage Pakistan-India contests, warning against crossing the line in what is expected to be a charged atmosphere.