India-Pakistan Clash Now Set For THIS Time

The Asia Cup 2025 countdown has started, with the event all set to begin on September 9 and culminate with a nail-biting final on September 28. But just a few days ahead of the high-voltage event, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a very important announcement – the timings of the matches have been altered to begin later than initially decided.

What’s the Change?

In a shocking decision, 18 of the 19 matches, including the blockbuster final, will now start at 6:30 PM local time, half an hour later than originally proposed. This implies matches that were originally fixed for 7:30 PM IST will now take off at 8:00 PM IST, including the highly awaited India vs Pakistan encounter.

Why the Schedule Shift?

September is extremely hot across much of the subcontinent, with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C. Playing in such conditions raised issues of players’ safety and the quality of matches overall. To prevent this, the BCCI asked broadcasters to permit a delay in match timings – a suggestion that was easily accepted.

India’s Matches Under the New Schedule

All India’s group-stage and possible knockout matches will now adhere to the new timing, beginning at 8:00 PM IST, providing the fans with a little late but more convenient watching experience.

The One Exception

Interestingly, the only match that will remain on schedule is the UAE vs Oman match, scheduled for September 15 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

With teams set for a grueling fight and viewers set for exciting cricket evenings, this timing change brings an interesting element to the Asia Cup 2025, allowing players to miss the hottest heat and viewers to watch prime-time action.