At the upcoming Men’s T20 Asia Cup, 18 out of 19 matches, including the final, will now start at 6:30 pm local time—half an hour later than originally planned—to avoid extreme heat. Daytime temperatures in the UAE are expected to reach the 40s in September, prompting organizers to revise all day-night fixtures from 7:30 pm IST (6 pm local time) to 8 pm IST (6:30 pm local time).
The only unaffected game is the day match between UAE and Oman on September 15 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, starting at 5:30 pm IST (4 pm local). The tournament begins on September 9 in Abu Dhabi with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong. Dubai will host 11 matches, including the final on September 29, while Abu Dhabi will host eight.
Group A includes India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B has Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. India will face UAE on September 10 and Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, and play Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Fours stage, with the top two competing in the final. India are the defending champions, having defeated Sri Lanka in the 2023 50-over final, while Sri Lanka won the T20I version in 2022.