Cricket fans in the UAE eager to snap up seats for the Asia Cup are being urged to wait for official ticket sales, after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed that none have been released yet.

The biennial T20 tournament, hosted by the UAE from September 9 to 28, will feature blockbuster fixtures in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on September 14 in Dubai. With the rivals potentially meeting up to three times, demand is expected to be unprecedented.

In a warning on social media, the ACC said that any tickets currently circulating online are unauthorised, fraudulent, and will not grant entry to matches at Dubai International Cricket Stadium or Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. Fans have been advised to follow the ACC and Emirates Cricket Board for official ticketing updates.

India open their campaign against hosts UAE on September 10 in Dubai, followed by Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Four stage, with Dubai hosting the final on September 28.

With squads finalised, India opting for stability and Pakistan making bold omissions of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, anticipation is building for high-octane clashes. For hosts UAE, early group matches against India and Pakistan will be the ultimate test on home turf.

As the countdown begins, the ACC has reminded fans that the first battle is off the pitch: securing tickets safely through official channels.

Asia Cup 2025 Fixture Guide

Group A

• India vs UAE — Wed, Sep 10 | Dubai | 6pm
• Pakistan vs Oman — Fri, Sep 12 | Dubai | 6pm
• India vs Pakistan — Sun, Sep 14 | Dubai | 6pm
• UAE vs Oman — Mon, Sep 15 | Abu Dhabi | 4pm
• Pakistan vs UAE — Wed, Sep 17 | Dubai | 6pm
• India vs Oman — Fri, Sep 19 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm

Group B

• Afghanistan vs Hong Kong — Tue, Sep 9 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm
• Bangladesh vs Hong Kong — Thu, Sep 11 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm
• Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka — Sat, Sep 13 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm
• Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong — Mon, Sep 15 | Dubai | 6pm
• Bangladesh vs Afghanistan — Tue, Sep 16 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm
• Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan — Thu, Sep 18 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm

Super Four

• Group B winner vs Group B runner-up — Sat, Sep 20 | Dubai | 6pm
• Group A winner vs Group A runner-up — Sun, Sep 21 | Dubai | 6pm
• Group A runner-up vs Group B winner — Tue, Sep 23 | Abu Dhabi | 6pm
• Group A winner vs Group B runner-up — Wed, Sep 24 | Dubai | 6pm
• Group A runner-up vs Group B runner-up — Thu, Sep 25 | Dubai | 6pm
• Group A winner vs Group B runner-up — Fri, Sep 26 | Dubai | 6pm

Final

• Sun, Sep 28 | Dubai | 6pm

UAE Fans’ Quick Guide

Tickets: Not on sale yet; avoid online resellers. Buy only via ACC & Emirates Cricket Board official links

Venues: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Key Match:India vs Pakistan on Sun, Sep 14 | Dubai | 6pm

Getting There:

• Dubai: Use the Dubai Metro (Stadium Station) + RTA shuttle buses
• Abu Dhabi: Park & ride options from key city points, plus ride-hailing

Dubai is gearing up for the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, which kicks off on Sunday, August 24, at the ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai.

The 18-match competition will see six sides. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Development, Desert Vipers Development, Dubai Capitals Development, Gulf Giants Development, MI Emirates Development, and Sharjah Warriorz Development will be battling it out in a round-robin league format.

Defending champions Gulf Giants Development will look to retain their crown, while the squads for all six franchises will be finalised through a Player Selection Draft on August 18 at Dubai International Stadium. Each team will consist of 15 UAE-based players.

Pathway to ILT20 Season 4

The tournament serves as a crucial platform for local cricketers to showcase their skills and earn a spot in the marquee DP World ILT20 Season 4, which gets underway on Tuesday, December 2 (UAE National Day) and runs until January 4, 2026.

Each ILT20 franchise is required to include a minimum of four UAE players in its squad for Season 4.

Tournament Director Andrew Russell said: “The DP World ILT20 Development Tournament is now a highlight on the Emirates Cricket Board calendar. It provides young players with the chance to shine and push for selection at the top level. Last year, we saw players like Farhan Ahmed and Saghir Khan graduate from this competition to make their mark in ILT20 Season 3. This edition is an even bigger opportunity, especially with the UAE’s national stars away on international duty.”

Player Auction and Registration

The ILT20 Player Auction for Season 4 will take place shortly after the Asia Cup, with franchises able to sign 13 players each, 78 in total. Registration for players is open until Wednesday, September 10.

Tournament Schedule

(All matches will take place at ICC Academy, Dubai)

• August 24 (5pm): Dubai Capitals Dev vs Desert Vipers Dev
• August 24 (9pm): MI Emirates Dev vs Gulf Giants Dev
• August 25 (5pm): Sharjah Warriorz Dev vs ADKR Dev
• August 25 (9pm): Gulf Giants Dev vs Dubai Capitals Dev
• August 26 (5pm): ADKR Dev vs MI Emirates Dev
• August 26 (9pm): Desert Vipers Dev vs Sharjah Warriorz Dev
• August 27 (5pm): MI Emirates Dev vs Dubai Capitals Dev
• August 27 (9pm): Gulf Giants Dev vs Desert Vipers Dev
• August 29 (5pm): Sharjah Warriorz Dev vs Gulf Giants Dev
• August 29 (9pm): ADKR Dev vs Dubai Capitals Dev
• August 30 (5pm): Desert Vipers Dev vs MI Emirates Dev
• August 30 (9pm): Dubai Capitals Dev vs Sharjah Warriorz Dev
• August 31 (7pm): Desert Vipers Dev vs ADKR Dev
• September 1 (5pm): Sharjah Warriorz Dev vs MI Emirates Dev
• September 1 (9pm): ADKR Dev vs Gulf Giants Dev
• September 2 (5pm): Semi-Final 1
• September 2 (9pm): Semi-Final 2
• September 3 (7pm): Final

The winning team will not only lift the trophy but also see several of its stars potentially fast-tracked into the spotlight of DP World ILT20 Season 4 this December.

Ask ChatGPT

Portuguese soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a rare India appearance after Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr were drawn against ISL champions FC Goa in the AFC Champions League Two group stage. The sides will meet twice under the home-and-away format, though Ronaldo’s trip to Goa remains uncertain amid reports of a contract clause restricting certain away fixtures.

In the same competition, Al Nassr will also face Iraq’s Al Zawraa and Tajikistan’s Istiklol Dushanbe, with the potential star power of Ronaldo, Joao Felix, and Sadio Mane ensuring huge fan interest across Asia.

Meanwhile, UAE champions Shabab Al Ahli have been handed a formidable AFC Champions League Elite draw, going up against all three of Saudi Arabia’s football giants, Al Hilal, Al Ahli Saudi Arabia, and Al Ittihad. The Dubai side, coached by Portuguese tactician Paulo Sousa, dominated domestically last season and will now aim to add continental silverware to their collection when the group stage kicks off on September 15.

Elsewhere, the UAE’s Sharjah and Al Wahda also face Saudi opposition in the competition, while Al Wasl will compete in the AFC Champions League Two against Esteghlal (Iran), Al Muharraq (Bahrain), and Al Wehdat (Jordan). The top eight sides from each region progress to the Round of 16 in March 2026, with finals set for April in Saudi Arabia.

The possibility of Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Sadio Mane playing in front of a packed Indian crowd has already generated huge buzz.