When the Emirates Cricket Board finally dropped the news at 5 pm, tickets for the Asia Cup 2025 went live on platinumlist.net, and fans clicked in like their lives depended on it. Within minutes, chaos. The site was swamped, showing more than 15,000 people already waiting in line. Some unlucky souls who joined a few minutes late? They found themselves shoved behind 20,000-plus others, staring at a soul-crushing wait time of over 11 hours. Imagine waiting all day for a ticket, only to see your “estimated entry” flash up as 1.20 am. Brutal.
Asia Cup 2025: Fans Endure 11-Hour Queues for Tickets in UAE
Of course, the biggest prize here is obvious: the India–Pakistan clash. Always the marquee game, always the hottest ticket in town. This year, though, prices are steep. Dh1,400, and to twist the knife further, those seats are initially bundled only as part of a seven-match pack. Costly, yes, but let’s be honest, people will still queue. Cricket isn’t just a game in this part of the world; it’s a full-blown obsession.
Ticket Frenzy Meets UAE Reality
This edition promises to pull in diehards from all corners, from Karachi to Kolkata, Dubai to Delhi. But the online bottleneck is a stark reminder of modern-day fandom, no more box office counters, just digital waiting rooms where patience is the only currency.
And yes, prices sting. But that’s not stopping the crowd. For many, even the thought of missing out on a once-in-a-year showdown is worse than burning a hole in their wallets.
Playing Under The Desert Sun
There’s another twist to this year’s tournament: the heat. Let’s face it, September in the UAE is no picnic. Daytime temperatures push 40°C, and nobody, players or fans, wants to fry in that kind of weather. The organisers know this, which is why 18 out of the 19 matches have been shifted by half an hour. Broadcasters gave the nod, and the result is simple: day-night games will now start at 8 pm IST instead of 7. Small change, big relief.
Only one fixture sticks to the old timing: the hosts, UAE vs Oma,n on 15 September at Zayed Cricket Stadium. The rest of the tournament gets the slight buffer, which should make conditions more bearable, at least once the sun dips a little. It’s not perfect, but in practice, it’s a smart adjustment.
Also Read: Asia Cup UAE: AED 11K Worth Fake Tickets Sold For Ind-Pak Clash, Here’s How To Avoid The Scam!
And don’t forget, this is only the third time the Asia Cup is being played in a T20 format. Afghanistan will face Hong Kong in the opener on 9 September, setting the stage for weeks of drama. If ticket sales are any indication, stadiums are going to be packed to the rafters.
Cover Image Courtesy: Olympics.com/Website
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