Sports
Asia Cup 2025 trophy unveiled as teams all set for UAE showdown
- Skippers of all eight teams attend trophy unveiling ceremony.
- Fans across Asia are abuzz with excitement for tournament.
- Indian captain says Twenty20 format as highly challenging.
The trophy of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 has been unveiled, adding to the anticipation surrounding the eight-nation tournament set to kick off in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today (Tuesday).
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, performed the unveiling ceremony.
The event saw the representation of the captains of all the teams participating in the tournament.
Cricket fans across Asia are abuzz with excitement as final squads are confirmed and preparations near completion, setting the stage for three weeks of top-flight cricket.
Asia Cup 2025 will kick off with Afghanistan taking on minnows Hong Kong at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The tournament will be played across two venues — Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium — with Abu Dhabi hosting eight matches, including a Super Four clash on September 23, and Dubai staging the majority of games, including both high-profile Pakistan-India encounters, should the arch-rivals qualify beyond the group stage.
Pakistan, fresh from their tri-nation series victory, have been placed in Group A alongside India, Oman, and hosts UAE. The Green Shirts will open their campaign on September 12 against Oman in Dubai, followed by the much-awaited clash with India on September 14, before concluding their group stage on September 17 against the UAE.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav said during the trophy unveiling ceremony that his side was “equally excited” for the Asia Cup, describing the Twenty20 format as highly challenging, where “any team can deliver an extraordinary performance”.
Group B features Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong. The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, with the final scheduled for September 28 in Dubai.
All matches will start at 6pm Gulf Standard Time (7 PST), except for the September 15 fixture between the UAE and Oman.
Former Pakistan fast-bowling great Wasim Akram has urged players and fans from both sides to remain disciplined and not cross the line during the high-voltage Pakistan-India matches.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first against Hong Kong in the opening match of Asia Cup 2025 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday.
The two sides have met five times in the shorter format, with Afghanistan leading the head-to-head record 3-2.
Playing XIs
Hong Kong: Zeeshan Ali(w), Babar Hayat, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Yasim Murtaza(c), Ayush Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Head-to-head
Afghanistan and Hong Kong have come face-to-face five times in T20Is, with the former leading the head-to-head record with three triumphs.
- Matches: 5
- Afghanistan: 3
- Hong Kong: 2
Form Guide
The two teams enter the Asia Cup 2025 curtain raiser with similar momentum in their favour as they both have three victories in their last five completed T20Is, respectively.
Hong Kong participated in the Asia Pacific Cricket Champions Trophy in July and made it to the final, where Malaysia outclassed them by 10 wickets in the rain-affected contest, which was reduced to five overs per side.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, tasted a similar fate in the recently concluded T20I tri-series against Pakistan and hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they suffered a gruelling defeat in the final against the Green Shirts.
Afghanistan: L, W, W, W, L (most recent first)
Hong Kong: L, W, W, L, W
Alexander Isak has said people don’t have the “full picture” on the details of his move from Newcastle United to Liverpool.
Isak joined Liverpool in a British-record £125 million ($170 million) deal on transfer deadline day following a long-running battle with Newcastle to let him leave.
He was not involved in preseason with Eddie Howe’s side. In August, he released a statement saying promises had been broken and his trust in Newcastle had been lost.
Speaking while on international duty with Sweden this week, Isak said people did not have the full story.
“Not everyone has the full picture, but that’s something for another day,” Isak told Swedish media.
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“That’s part of football. I can’t control everything that is said or written but I’m glad I became a Liverpool player. That’s what I wanted and I’m happy about that.
“There is a lot to discuss, and it can be discussed for a long time. It has been educational, and I’m happy with the final result.
“I’m happy and proud to be a Liverpool player. I don’t want to go into details or talk about that situation too much. It is a closed chapter, but I have never had any problems.”
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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams ignited a debate on social media with his uniform as he stepped onto the field on Monday night to play the Minnesota Vikings.
Williams, the second-year NFL player, was spotted with a gray undershirt underneath his Bears jersey.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) drops back to pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 2025. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
The piece of equipment appeared to divide the internet while Chicago lost to Minnesota, 27-24.
For Williams, it was a tale of two halves. He had Chicago up four points at halftime and it appeared that he was going to take over and lead the Bears to a victory.
The offense punted the ball twice while the defense came through with a pick six from cornerback Nahshon Wright. In the fourth quarter, the Bears missed a field goal following an 11-play, 44-yard drive and punted two more times after that.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs past Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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The lack of scoring allowed J.J. McCarthy to get the Vikings back into the game. He engineered three touchdown drives. And while Williams threw a touchdown pass to Rome Odunze to bring the game to within three points, they barely had any time left when they got the ball last.
Williams was 21-of-35 with 210 passing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) practices before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 2025. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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“We said going into Week 1 that the team that would make the least number of mistakes would win the game, and unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of that,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said. “We made too many there late in the game, myself included. There were a number of things that I could have done better.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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