Explained: Why Asia Cup 2025 will be played in T20I format

Asia Cup 2025 will begin on 9th September.

After the test season, it’s now time for some T20I action as Asia’s biggest championship is around the corner. Asia Cup 2025 is all set to be played in September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Asia Cup 2025 will kick start on 9th September and will run till the end of the month, with the final set to take place on 28th September. This will be the 17th edition of the tournament, and like the last seasons, it is expected to be a blockbuster.

The first edition of the tournament was played in 1984 when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was founded. It was introduced to promote cricket in Asia, and since then, several teams from the continent have made their presence felt.

Why the Asia Cup 2025 will be played in T20I format

When the Asia Cup was introduced, it was played in the ODI format since the T20I had not yet come into existence. Till 2015, the tournament was played in the 50-over format, but ahead of the start of the 2016 season, it was announced that the format in which the tournament would be played would be on a rotational basis.

It was announced that the format of the tournament will be decided on the basis of the format of upcoming world events. This is the reason why the Asia Cup was played in the T20I format for the first time in 2016 since the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 was next to follow.

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner, the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup will be played in T20I format. The last edition was played in the ODI format, as it was played a few months ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Asia Cup winners

Indian Cricket Team at ICC Champions Trophy 2025. (Image Source: BCCI)

India are the most successful team in the Asia Cup. They have won the title record eight times and are followed by Sri Lanka, who have six titles. Pakistan are there too with two cups.

Year Hosts Winners Runners-up 1984 UAE India Sri Lanka 1986 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Pakistan 1988 Bangladesh India Sri Lanka 1990/1991 India India Sri Lanka 1995 UAE India Sri Lanka 1997 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka India 2000 Bangladesh Pakistan Sri Lanka 2004 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka India 2008 Pakistan Sri Lanka India 2010 Sri Lanka India Sri Lanka 2012 Bangladesh Pakistan Bangladesh 2014 Bangladesh Sri Lanka Pakistan 2016 Bangladesh India (T20I) Bangladesh 2018 UAE India Bangladesh 2022 UAE Sri Lanka (T20I) Pakistan 2023 Pakistan/Sri Lanka India Sri Lanka

When will Asia Cup 2025 begin? Asia Cup 2025 will begin on 9th September. Which team has won the Asia Cup the most times? India have with eight titles have won the most number of titles.

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