Asia Cup 2018: Watch the live action right here in the UAE!

Cricket fans in Dubai have reason to rejoice as the Unimoni Asia Cup 2018 is being hosted right here in the UAE this year! This marks the 14th edition of the epic tournament and the third time the UAE will play host to the players from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Srilanka and one more lucky country that will qualify to be in the final six. Are you excited to watch the Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE? You have come to the right place then! We bring you the comprehensive overview of the Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE including group fixtures and ticket prices, especially for the highly anticipated India Vs Pakistan matches of the Asia Cup in Dubai! Don’t forget to also check out the ticket prices for the Asia Cup 2018 and book your place for the final game of India vs Bangladesh. 

• Date: 15 – 28 September 2018
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Format and schedule of the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

On the 24th of July 2018, it was announced that the much-awaited Asia Cup cricket tournament would be split into group stage fixtures, with the competing six teams divided into two groups. The teams that come on the top two from each group will then progress to the Super Fours of the tournament. The top two teams from these Super Four matches will then make it to the final of the Asia Cup 2018 on 28 September 2018 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

the two groups for the Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE

• Group A: Comprises of India, Pakistan and the final team that will qualify for the Asia Cup, which is expected to be Oman or the UAE based on the standings so far. 
• Group B: Comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka. 

The first game of the Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE will be on 15 September at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium between Srilanka and Bangladesh from Group B. This will be followed by the first Group A match between Pakistan and the yet to be decided qualifying team on 16 September, after which the next game on 17 September will move to the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi where Afghanistan and Srilanka will battle it out. On 18 September defending champions India will play their first match against the final qualifying team, after which comes the most awaited game of the tournament on the 19th; the Pakistan Vs India clash at Dubai. The final game of the group stage of the Asia Cup will be held at Abu Dhabi on the 20th between Afghanistan and Bangladesh after which the series will proceed to the Super Fours. 

Group Stage matches

• 15 September: Srilanka Vs Bangladesh (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
• 16 September: Pakistan Vs Qualifier (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
• 17 September: Afghanistan Vs Srilanka (Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi)
• 18 September: India Vs Qualifier (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
• 19 September: India Vs Pakistan (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)
• 20 September: Afghanistan Vs Bangladesh (Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

The games in the Super Fours will determine the final two teams that will content for the Asia Cup trophy. Since Indians and Pakistanis form a majority of the expat population in the Emirates, interest is naturally high for these games. Apart from the group stage match on the 19th, the Super Four game on the 23rd of September is also expected to be an India Vs Pakistan match. Tickets are selling out quickly, so make sure to grab yours before they are all gone. 

Super Four Matches of Asia Cup, 2018

• 21 September 2018, Dubai: Group A Winner Vs Group B Runner-up
• 21 September 2018, Abu Dhabi: Group B Winner Vs Group A Runner-up

• 23 September 2018, Dubai: Group A Winner Vs Group A Runner-up
• 23 September 2018, Abu Dhabi: Group B Winner Vs Group B Runner-up

• 25 September 2018, Dubai: Group A Winner Vs Group B Winner
• 26 September 2018, Abu Dhabi: Group A Runner-ups Vs Group B Runner-ups

The top two teams from the Super Fours will fight it out on the 28th for the final. Make sure to also check the timings on the tickets. The games will be played in the 50-over format of One Day Internationals, so expect to spend a few hours at the stadium if this is the first time you are going to watch a game of cricket in the UAE. 

We now know that the final game will be an India Vs Bangladesh match on the 28th of September. So watch the cricketers clash in the finals of the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai at Sports City for an exhilarating end to the nail-biting series. 

Here is an infographic detailing the fixtures of the Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Make a note of these in your calendar and enjoy one of the most anticipated events for September in the UAE!

Ticket prices for the Asia Cup Matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Since the game is happening right here in the UAE, there will be plenty of fans interested in watching the Asia Cup 2018 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Tickets for Asia Cup 2018 have already gone on sale for the matches, so hurry and book them now before they are sold out. The ticket prices for Asia Cup matches start at a modest AED 35 in Dubai and AED 20 in Abu Dhabi but can be higher based on the game and type of ticket. For instance, the tickets for India Vs Pakistan matches start at a higher AED 150. You can buy the Asia Cup 2018 tickets online or at the stadium. 

There are general admission, international, premium and platinum tickets for the tournament, along with corporate lounges and season tickets for the matches in Dubai. Tickets for the India-Pakistan matches of the Asia Cup are bound to sell out soon, so book in advance so you don’t miss out. As of now, all the tickets for the Pakistan-India match on 19 September are already sold out except for the Premium season tickets for matches in Dubai.

If you are not looking to watch the Asia Cup in the stadium, there are also several sports bars in Dubai that will be live streaming the matches. You could also watch the Asia Cup in some of the trendy restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi which are sure to live stream the games. Remember to make reservations in advance and book tables to watch the games with your friends and family. If you prefer to watch the cricket matches in the comfort of your home, you can subscribe to the sports packages on offer from Du, Etisalat and OSN and cheer your favourite teams to victory. 

commute to the stadiums for Asia Cup matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

There are a total of eight matches from the Asia Cup, 2018 that will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and five matches that will be at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. If you are planning to watch the Asia Cup matches in the stadiums, it’s best to be aware of their location, so you don’t end up on missing out on any exciting sixers or catches while being stuck in traffic. 

The Asia Cup matches in Dubai will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which is located close to the apartments in Dubai Sports City. It is easily accessible by the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and is close to Motor City and Arabian Ranches. The metro station closest to Dubai Sports City is Dubai Internet City, after which you can either take a taxi or get on a bus to come to the stadium. 

In Abu Dhabi, the matches for Asia Cup will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, near Khalifa City A. It is accessible by the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road and the International Airport Road. Those travelling from Dubai, please note that it takes 45-minutes to drive from Downtown Dubai to the stadium. 

Are you ready to watch your favourite teams battle it out for glory and bowl out their competition at the Asia Cup 2018 in the UAE? We sure are! Make your bookings now and enjoy a fortnight of cricketing fun, right here in the UAE! 

Do you have any predictions about who is going to be the next champion? Let us know in the comments section below and stay tuned to the best lifestyle and property blog in the UAE for more trending news and updates.