The Asia Cup 2025 is just a few days away, and the anticipation is ever-building for the eight-team mega T20 international competition. The biennial event is slated to commence on September 9, 2025, and run until September 28, 2025. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plays host to the continental tournament, with the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai and the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi selected as the venues for the 19 matches. The former will host the final to decide the Asian champions for 2025, preceding the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. The eight teams competing are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, Afghanistan, Oman, and Hong Kong, divided into two groups of four. The group stage is followed by a Super-4 round, and then the top two teams face off in the final for Asian glory.

As is evident in the past, the tournament has witnessed some exciting battles, with players taking centre-stage and emerging as match winners for their respective countries. This edition promises to go a step ahead in delivering that same drama and adrenaline rush for everyone alike. Teams are expected to field relatively younger sides with new heroes in the fray for snatching headlines and eventually becoming the mainstays. This upholds the prevailing excitement and appreciates the anticipation around, with the right ingredients for witnessing intense and mouth-watering cricket contests. In a format driven by strategies, tactics, statistics, and analytics, match-ups and head-to-head individual tussles often hold the power to swing the pendulum towards either of the teams. They have a fair say in the decision of the match, and the majority of the outcomes are hence dependent on them. This fetches the focus and attention on the top three player match-ups to keep a curious eye on in the upcoming Asia Cup. 

See Also: Four costliest drops in Asia Cup history ft. Arshdeep Singh

Shubman Gill Vs Shaheen Shah Afridi

Back in the T20 circuit for India and now also as the vice-captain, Shubman Gill is going through a purple patch in his playing career. Having had a great Indian Premier League (IPL) season and backing it up with some stupendous batting performances in the test series in England, the talismanic batter is expected to open the innings with his state-mate Abhishek Sharma. In IPL 2025, he churned 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87, playing as an opener for the Gujarat Titans, and that tally seems pivotal for his return in the mix. He, however, in a marquee clash against the arch-rivals, will be pitted against Pakistan's ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose left-arm angle can cause issues for the Indian batter. Shaheen had an impeccable Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 season and led his Lahore Qalandars side to the title as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He amassed 19 wickets at an average of 16.42 and an economy of 7.76. He is currently playing in a T20I tri-series involving Afghanistan and the UAE in Sharjah, and scalped 2 wickets for 21 runs in the first match against the Afghanis. The duo will be matching up against each other for the very first occasion in the T20 format. 

SALMAN AGHA Vs RASHID KHAN

The match-up stands tall among all the individual face-offs that the game between Afghanistan and Pakistan throws. The latter enter the tournament with an inexperienced batting line-up, devoid of the stalwarts like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Their current skipper, Salman Agha, has been in a great nick and is arguably their best batter alongside Fakhar Zaman. In the ongoing tri-series in the UAE, it was the Pakistan captain who played an impressive knock of 53 runs to help his side post a winning total against Afghanistan. Rashid Khan's spin bowling exploits are well-renowned across the cricketing world, and his performances, coupled with leadership duties, will be crucial in Afghanistan's longevity in the competition. In the first two matches of the tri-series, he has been successful in accumulating 4 wickets at an insane average of 11.75. 

Pathum Nissanka Vs Mustafizur Rahman

Arguably, Sri Lanka's best white ball batter among the present crop of players, Pathum Nissanka, for a long time has been the backbone of the island nation's run scoring. He often sets the tone as an opener, and his contingent style of batting enables him to play several roles. He can be explosive or lead as an anchor depending on the game situation. Currently touring Zimbabwe, he won the man of the series award for his scintillating batting performances in the ODI rubber. Sri Lanka will hope that he stays consistent and serves his nation for as long as possible. The fixture against Bangladesh has emerged as a new rivalry in Asian cricket, with some very close and nail-biting thrillers, over the recent years, upholding this fact. Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh's premier fast bowler, holds immense potential to wreak havoc among the Lankan batters, and the latter will certainly have to be wary of his immaculate bowling skills. 

Besides these three essential and top match-ups, there can be several other subtle moments in a fixture that can determine the eventualities. T20 cricket is a game of fine margins with little scope for error. The format of the Asia Cup contains the group, round-robin, and knockout stages. It tests every team against the other, and to be crowned the Asian T20I Champions for 2025, sides will have to bring in their premium quality game against some tough oppositions, and in extreme heat weather conditions of the Gulf region. 

Cricket in Hong Kong is entering a new era of growth and opportunity with the announcement of a landmark partnership between Cricket Hong Kong China and Arivaa Sports Private Limited.

Arivaa Sports, an India-based sports management company, has been confirmed as the official sponsor of the Hong Kong Men’s Cricket Team, supporting their journey from grassroots development to the Asia Cup 2025 and beyond. This partnership is expected to boost resources, exposure, and opportunities for Hong Kong cricket as the team continues its upward trajectory in international competitions.

Arivaa to Manage Hong Kong Sixes 2025

Alongside the sponsorship deal, Cricket Hong Kong has also appointed Arivaa Sports as the exclusive management and commercial partner for the Hong Kong Sixes 2025. The iconic short-format cricket spectacle will return on October 31, November 1, and November 2, 2025, at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong.

The Sixes is one of the most unique and entertaining cricket events in the world, known for its fast-paced matches, festival-like atmosphere, and international flavor. The 2025 edition promises to be the biggest yet, with players from 12 different countries competing over three action-packed days.

🚨 ARIVAA SPORTS 🤝 CRICKET HONG KONG. 🚨

-Arivaa Sports will be sponsoring Hong Kong's men's cricket team. 👏 pic.twitter.com/YuKbzQcSAw

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 23, 2025

Leaders Speak on the New Era

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Burji Shroff, Chairperson of Cricket Hong Kong China, said: “We are excited to be taking steps forward this year to enhance the Sixes. The Sixes is a tournament steeped in history, and with Arivaa Sports as our exclusive partner, we are convinced this year’s iteration will be larger, better, and more engaging than ever before.”

Adding to this, Mr. Rajneesh Chopra, Co-Founder of Arivaa Sports, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are privileged to be entrusted with such a prestigious global event. The Hong Kong Sixes is a unique celebration of cricket, and we will work hard to ensure a world-class experience for players, fans, and stakeholders.”

ALSO SEE:Sanju Samson bats at number 5 position in ongoing KCL 2025

A Bright Future for Hong Kong Cricket

The dual role of Arivaa Sports both as sponsor of the Hong Kong Men’s Team and as commercial partner for the Sixes marks a transformative step for cricket in Hong Kong. The collaboration is designed to bring global exposure, professional expertise, and fan engagement to new heights, blending tradition with innovation.

As the Hong Kong Men’s Team prepares for the Asia Cup 2025, and the legendary Sixes makes its grand return, fans can look forward to a thrilling new chapter in Hong Kong’s cricket journey.

Hong Kong team for Asia Cup 2025

Yasim Murtaza (c), Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali, Niazakat Khan Mohammad, Nasrulla Rana, Martin Coetzee, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Marc Challu, Ayush Ashish Shukla, Mohammad Aizaz Khan, Ateeq ul Rehman Iqbal, Kinchit Shah, Adil Mehmood, Haroon Mohammad Arshad, Ali Hassan, Shahid Wasif, Ghazanfar Mohammad, Mohammad Waheed, Anas Khan, Ehsan Khan

Pakistan's cricket community is ablaze after Chief Selector Ajib Javed confirmed that the recent rumors were true and Babar Azam will not be in the 17-member squad for the T20I Asia Cup. Fans were taken by surprise as they expected the experienced batter to play at this big tournament, but Javed said that they were committed to their team plans, and every decision made was with the long-term plan in mind.

Babar, who is one of Pakistan's biggest run-scorers over the past couple of years, has been outside of the T20I considerations in the last few series, but his omission from the Asia Cup squad has opened up more conversations about the selectors and their perceived biases. Pakistan appears interested in reshaping its batting order and giving younger and newer players opportunities, and management seems focused on keeping a modern look at its talent targets and avoiding perceived inheritances.

ALSO SEE: 3 Teams Who Should Target Prithvi Shaw for IPL 2026, Featuring Chennai Super Kings

Babar Azam left out of Asia Cup squad but kept on standby by selectors

Reports additionally indicate that Babar was unable to participate in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this season either. It’s believed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) does not want him playing franchise cricket abroad, instead preferring him to stay on standby for the Asia Cup. While Babar may be off the main squad for now, it shows the selectors have him in their plans for something like a back-up during the tournament, in case they need to call on him.

This situation has raised plenty of debate among fans and experts alike. Some claim it's a risk to leave out a player of Babar's quality, particularly for such an important tournament, given his experience and ability to set an innings up, which has been crucial in recent tournaments. Other comparisons have been made that the selectors are looking ahead and are right to be building a team for the future, capable of doing well and adapting to the fast pace of modern T20 games.

Babar Azam's role in Pakistan's T20 set-up can be somewhat uncertain at the moment. Given his absence, Pakistan may seem to be heading in a different direction strategically, but with him being kept on standby, we cannot officially discount him being called into the playing XI.

Leadership in the shortest format is a scratchy job, and MS Dhoni, the former Indian captain, who earned the T20 World Cup 2007, was known for such instincts in the field, which could change the flow of the game instantly. One of the best aspects of his captaincy was the changes he used to make in the bowling attack and get wickets immediately.

The current Gujarat Titans opener and the former England captain, Jos Buttler, recently expressed that matchups were not part of the game in the past. He reckoned that Dhoni used to do the matchups back in the days, like he would bowl an off-spinner against the left-handed batter.

See Also: Former RCB star replaces injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand’s first Test against Zimbabwe

‘Sometimes, in a sort of modern cricket, it gets a bit misconstrued that people talk about matchups. Be the word that everyone says on commentary, ‘oh, these are the matchups. It’s the modern thing.’ But back in the day, people just called that cricket knowledge. You know, I like Dhoni was doing matchups a while ago, back in the day, before it became. It’s like let’s just bowl an off-spinner at the left-hander.’ Buttler explained during a recent podcast with former pacer Stuart Broad.

Watch: GT star highlights MS Dhoni’s knowledge on leadership

Buttler, who has experience of 458 games in the T20s for 13055 runs at an average of 35.66 and a strike rate of 145.93, thanks to eight centuries and 93 half-centuries, explained how data would never be the combination of numbers only, but a mixture of experience and other staff.

'MS Dhoni sees things before it's happened. He is fountain of Knowledge' - Jos Buttler while talking about Match Ups in Cricket !! pic.twitter.com/0gwqN7kR3I

— 🎰 (@StanMSD) July 25, 2025

‘It’s not like match-ups. Back in the day, it might have worked. Date isn’t just numbers. Data can be experiences; it can be quantified in loads of different ways. People talk about Dhoni’s captaincy, and it’s like he sees things before they happen. He is the fountain of knowledge and data. There is a collaboration and some kind of conviction, and that’s where teams work very well.’ Buttler shed light.

The thing is very simple. For any captain, it’s about deciding on their own in the field. Matchups will stay there, but having the gut feeling of how the game is panning out on that very day and tweaking the plans around that would put him in the front seat. There could be mistakes, but there are lessons to learn.

Australian speedster Riley Meredith extracted some serious pace in a recent South Group fixture of the Vitality T20 Blast 2025 between Somerset and Essex.  Meredith, who is currently featuring for Somerset this season, produced an annihilating yorker which split the stump in two halves. He subsequently went on to play a crucial role in helping Somerset achieve a commanding 95-run victory, finishing with figures of 2 for 22 in his two-over spell.

The extraordinary scene unfolded during the third over of the Essex run chase. Tasked with chasing a mammoth total of 226, Essex had to hit the ground running right from the get-go. As a result, the batters had to adopt a fearless and risk-taking mindset. Essex opener Michael Pepper was facing up to Meredith, and as fate would have it, the yorker turned out to be too good for him. 

In an attempt to take Meredith downtown, Pepper backed away to the legside and exposed all three stumps. The opener was comprehensively deceived in the air as the ball shaped away from him at ferocious pace. In the end, Pepper not only lost his leg stump, but also saw his leg stump split into two. While one piece of the stump remained rooted to the ground, the other flew off after making contact with the ball and landed behind the wicket. 

The reaction of the on-air commentators was priceless, with one reportedly stating that the broken portion of the stump needs to be captured in a frame. Evidently, the broken stump was replaced by another backup stump, which was available at the time of the game. But occurrences like these have been far and between in modern-day cricket. 

See also: Vitality Blast: WOR vs NOT Prediction, Who will win today?

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Previously, in the first innings, Somerset managed to put on a show with the bat. Tom Kohler-Cadmore quickly raced out of the blocks, slamming a rapid 90 (39). He was complimented by Will Smeed and Sean Dickson, who registered formidable scores of 32 (20) and 28* (17) to take Somerset to a galloping 225-6.

With a massive score on the board, Somerset responded well with the ball. Essex were thoroughly outplayed by the pace attack of Somerset. Matt Henry achieved figures of 4 wickets for 21 runs, while Craig Overton contributed with 2 wickets for 32 runs, effectively dismantling the middle and lower order. Additionally, Meredith concluded with impressive figures of 2 wickets for 22 runs. 

With just under a year to go, the buzz around the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is steadily growing. So far, 13 teams have officially qualified for the tournament, which will feature a total of 20 sides. India and Sri Lanka, as co-hosts, were the first to seal their places. Joining them are the top 7 teams from the Super Eights stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup: Australia, England, South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, West Indies,India and the ever-impressive United States, who reached the knockout phase in their home tournament.

In addition to those nine, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland secured direct entry through their ICC T20I rankings as of June 30, 2024. These selections reward consistency and high performance over the last year. The most recent team to qualify is Canada, who topped the Americas regional qualifier with an unbeaten run. It’s a huge milestone for Canadian cricket, marking their return to the world stage and reflecting the sport’s steady global growth beyond traditional powerhouses.

That leaves 7 spots still available, and they’ll be filled via regional qualifiers over the next few months. The stakes are high, with two teams each qualifying from Europe and Africa, while three spots will come from the combined Asia and East Asia-Pacific regional final, which will be hosted by Oman. These tournaments not only offer a path to the World Cup but also a chance for lesser-known nations to showcase their passion and progress on a global stage.
 ALSO READ: Jadeja is not a front-line spinner... ' - Former India coach slams team management for including Ravindra Jadeja in ENG vs IND Test XI

The Final Stretch to the 2026 T20 World Cup: Where Global Dreams Are Forged or Forgotten

The European Qualifier is scheduled for July, the African event in September, and the Asia–EAP tournament in October. Each region brings its own set of rising contenders  from familiar names like the Netherlands and Scotland to ambitious sides like Namibia, UAE, and Nepal. These matches are expected to be intense, emotional, and deeply competitive.

As the cricketing world holds its breath, seven teams are now just a few matches away from a dream. For them, qualifying isn’t just about making it to the World Cup it’s about proving that on the biggest stage, the gap between giants and dreamers is closing fast.

India can get another T20 league soon. The Gujarat Cricket Association reportedly all prepared to announce their own version of the T20 league. The decision about the tournament has already been finalized, but multiple key decisions are yet to be taken, as per the media reports.

After the invention of the Indian Premier League (IPL), various franchise-centric T20 leagues emerged. Keeping the possible prospects in various ways, as these kinds of leagues can prove fruitful for business purposes also, multiple states in India have been operating their own T20 leagues. The Tamil Nadu Premier League, T20 League Mumbai, and Madhya Pradesh Premiere League are some of the popular state-based Twenty20 leagues.

These kinds of tournaments have proven their usefulness by producing many talents over the years. These regional tournaments provide the required platform for the young stars to showcase their talents so that teams on the higher level can spot them. Aniket Verma earned an IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad after impressive performances in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League (MPL). Through these tournaments, local players get the chance to share a dressing room with star or well-known players.

Read More: South Africa tour of Zimbabwe 2025 1st Test: Live streaming & where to watch

Multiple decisions to be taken before conclusion 

According to a report published by Cricbuzz, the Gujarat Cricket Association is planning to introduce its own T20 league in the 2025-26 season. GCA secretary Anil Patel confirmed that the decision has been made, but details like the tournament window, format, and number of participating teams are not finalized. 

Finding the appropriate window for a new league can be critical for the Gujarat Cricket Association. In most cases, the state-run leagues begin after the conclusion of the IPL. Despite all the glitters, there are multiple reports that claim that investors found it difficult to make a profit from these leagues. 

Absolute scenes of carnage ensued in the Pro Corporate League in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). As unbelievable as it may sound, the Meerut Kings have managed to do the unthinkable by chasing down a whopping 41 runs in the final six balls of the run chase. Such an instance of this kind has never been recorded in men's professional T20 cricket. Mathematically, 36 runs is the most a batting team can extract if six legal deliveries are bowled. But Meerut Kings' batters, primarily featuring Shubham and Anuj, shattered all records and unleashed hell on the bowling team to register an unbelievable win.

The Meerut Kings now have the record for scoring the most number of runs in an over in T20 cricket. The record was previously held by Samoa's Darius Visser, who scored 39 runs off Vanuatu's Nalin Nipiko in an over during the 2026 T20 World Cup regional qualifier in Apia. The legendary Yuvraj Singh was the first batter to smash six consecutive sixes in an over. His record remained intact for nearly two decades before being eclipsed by the Nalin Nipiko and the destructive batting duo of Merrut Kings.

See also: TNPL 2025: SMP vs TRO, 23rd Match Prediction, Who will win today?

Watch the carnage unfold:

they required 41 runs in one over and the batsman chased down the score 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bQhlC4MouL

— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) June 24, 2025

The game went all the way down the wire with the Meerut Kings needing 41 more runs in the final over to taste victory. At this point, Meerut looked certainly out of contention and resorted solely to a miracle. With six wickets down, the bowling team was cruising along to a comfortable win. A left-arm spinner was brought on to finish off the job. His only job was to avoid extras. But after being hit for a six first ball, the bowler lost his composure, and the no-balls in his subsequent deliveries turned out to be disastrous for his side.

Shubham, while on strike, dispatched the first ball over long off for a six by effectively using his feet. His second six came off a long hop delivery. Shubham went deep in his crease and swung his bat hard to deposit it over long on for a massive six. His next six came off a waist-high no-ball, which he effortlessly dealt with by slogging it over deep mid-wicket. 

Halfway through the over, the equation was still very much in favor of the bowling side at this stage. With Meerut still needing another 22 off three, Shubham never looked like stopping. He made the most of the free-hit delivery by getting underneath a juicy half-volley ball and tonking it downtown for another six.  His finishing six came in the final ball of the over when he targeted the cow corner boundary and cleared it with ease by taking his side through to the final.

Such an onslaught left the bowling team dumbfounded and shell-shocked. Although such instances of brilliance are a rarity in modern-day cricket. However, when it does occur, it leaves ardent fans in disbelief. 

A hard-fought battle unfolded at the MCA Stadium in Pune as it geared up to host the high-octane Eliminator clash of the Maharashtra Premier League 2025 between Raigad Royals and Kolhapur Tuskers. In this epic thriller, a bizarre incident came to light as a result of a comical fielding lapse committed by the Kolhapur Tuskers.

During the run chase, Raigad Royals' Vicky Ostwal rode his luck to escape a run-out scare. Facing up to Atman Pore, Ostwal played a solid-looking back-foot punch shot through the offside and managed to pierce the gap between the two fielders at cover. The ball was not entirely timed out of the middle of the bat, but the second run was certainly on the cards. 

What should have been a routine exercise turned out to be an absolute nightmare. While turning for the second run, Ostwal bumped into his partner, and as a result, both of them instantly hit the ground upon impact. Funnily enough, Kolhapur Tuskers let this opportunity slip through their fingers. The throw came to the keeper's end when Ostwal was miles out of his crease.

Instead of whipping the bails at his end, he made an unusual move to pass the ball back to the bowler. Pore failed to collect the ball cleanly, and by the time he broke the stumps, the batter was in. However, the possibility of Ostwal being run out loomed large as he was still at the center of the pitch. But that chance also went begging. The fielder who collected the ball started running to the striker's end. Upon seeing that, Ostwal also started running with the bat in his hand. After making some ground, the Tuskers aimed at the stumps but missed them by some distance. But with no one backing up at the striker's end, Ostwal was harmlessly able to make his ground without even breaking a sweat. 

See also: MPL 2025, Qualifier 1: Eagle Nashik Titans vs Puneri Bappa Full Match Highlights

Watch how Ostwal survived the run out:

Collided, but never gave up — still made the crease! ✅

Vicky Ostwal. TAKE A BOW 👏#AdaniMPL2025 #RRvsPBGKT #ThisIsMahaCricket pic.twitter.com/LXsssa740e

— MPLT20Tournament (@mpltournament) June 20, 2025

Thanks to a comedy of errors on the field, Ostwal managed to survive a run-out scare from a very unlikely situation. The missed opportunity turned out to be a costly miss for Kolhapur Tuskers as Ostwal went on to deliver a match-winning contribution of 74 (54), helping his side prevail in a do-or-die Eliminator. On the back of this win, Raigad Royals have booked their spot for the second Qualifier and will face Puneri Bappa on Saturday. 

India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, is in London undergoing treatment for a sports hernia, keeping him away from cricketing action for the next few weeks. The right-handed batsman, who is celebrated for his flamboyant strokeplay, is making use of the breather in India's limited-overs schedule to get his fitness sorted and ensure he comes back fully fit. News24 reports that the surgery on the right side of his abdomen is set to take place next week, and a tentative return is planned around August.

As Suryakumar recovers abroad, the Indian Test squad, captained by Shubman Gill, is deep in training for the forthcoming five-match home Test series against England. India's T20I pillar in the last few years, Yadav, 34, is likely to return to the side in time for the white-ball tour of Bangladesh in August. Though BCCI hasn't announced the development officially, reports suggest the healing from the medical procedure could take nearly two months.

The move to undergo surgery at this point seems timely. India does not have another T20 assignment until August, which will provide Suryakumar with the recovery time required for a complete recovery before a cluttered T20 schedule featuring home series against South Africa and the West Indies, as well as a crucial tour of Australia leading into the 2026 T20 World Cup.

IPL Heroics and Recent Form

Prior to when his injury issues arose, Suryakumar was scorching hot throughout the IPL 2025 campaign. At the top of the batting list for Mumbai Indians, he had scored 717 runs in 16 matches at a mind-boggling average of 65.18 and strike rate of 167.9. Most notably, he had scored 25+ in all 16 innings—a T20 world record for consistency at the highest level.

See Also: Watch: Najmul Hossain Shanto's celebration after smashing his sixth century in SL vs BAN 1st Test

Post-IPL, he played for Triumph Knights MNE in the Mumbai T20 League but with less success. The side posted only one win in five games and did not make it to the playoffs, with Suryakumar scoring 122 runs in five matches. Apart from this temporary decline, his overall game is an essential strength as India makes its way to the T20 World Cup plan.