The Sharjah Tri-Series 2025 will be the beginning of a pivotal time in UAE cricket. The UAE is the host nation and hosting Pakistan and Afghanistan on the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from August 29 to September 7, as part of a high-stakes triangular series in preparation for the Asia Cup which follows soon after.
With three highly competitive sides competing the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, and Afghanistan the Sharjah Tri-Series 2025 will bring the cricketing world’s spotlight directly on Sharjah. However, this goes beyond a series; it will act as a sticking point for the UAE, which is progressing and establishing itself as a genuine competitor in Asian cricket.
With the Asia Cup 2025 on the horizon, the tri-series will provide the UAE the perfect platform to showcase their growing talent to the world, as well as try out their newly acquired skills against quality opposition, and create some noise in the international game.
Tactical Importance of the Tri-Series
This tri-series offers all three teams a critical opportunity:
- UAE can capitalize on home conditions to foster confidence, validate structures, and enhance global recognition. As
- Pakistan and Afghanistan will fine-tune their squad depth and strategies under competitive pressure, ahead of the Asia Cup.
Host: UAE's Rising Trajectory
The UAE squad, captained by Muhammad Waseem, has not only welcomed newer players such as Harshit Kaushik but also retained full-experience players like Junaid Siddique, creating a nice harmony of youth and experienced players that are looking to leverage the conditions in Sharjah.
Shahraj has historically had pitches conducive to batting; there are small ground dimensions, and pitches that slow down through the tournament. This means that there will often be some turn at certain stages of the pitch, and teams will often find spin bowling to be crucial when it matters as well. Death bowling needs to be ranged, and it should favor teams with sports overhead.
The Team & Squad
Pakistan has surprised fans by leaving stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out of their younger, more-improved team under their captain, Salman Ali Agha.
Afghanistan has taken a core of their Asia Cup squad under captain Rashid Khan, looking to incorporate spin-heavy combinations and aggressive batting units.
Why This Tri-Series Matters: Beyond Just Warm-Up Games
This isn’t just a “buildup” series. It’s a war of narratives, especially for the UAE:
Cricketing Recognition: If they play well, the UAE’s ICC rankings would improve, such as laying the foundation to get more bilateral series with full-member nations.
Global Exposure: As the top cricket media and fans look on, the UAE’s standout players have the opportunity to get noticed by T20 leagues around the world.
Mental Edge Before Asia Cup: If the UAE can compete or even beat Pakistan or Afghanistan, it sends a loud message to other Asia Cup contenders.
Schedule Overview
All matches will be held under lights at Sharjah, with a double round-robin format concluding with a final on September 7
- August 29 – Afghanistan vs Pakistan
- August 30 – UAE vs Pakistan
- September 1 – UAE vs Afghanistan
- September 2 – Pakistan vs Afghanistan
- September 4 – Pakistan vs UAE
- September 5 – Afghanistan vs UAE
- September 7 – Final (top two teams)
See the complete: Tri-Series 2025 schedule with ticket details here
What to Watch?
Home Advantage: The familiarity of the UAE players with the pitch and local support may provide an edge when it’s needed the most.
Pakistan’s Rebuild: All eyes will be on how the new-look Pakistan team approaches a pitch heavily affected by spinners and how they establish their rhythm without the 3 key retired players.
Consistency from Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s performance under Rashid Khan will show whether they are on track for the upcoming challenges of the Asia Cup.
Conclusion
The Sharjah Tri-Series 2025 is honoring cricket and providing meaningful preparation, competitive edge, and ambition. The UAE will be looking to make a statement, as Pakistan tests its new lineups under pressure, with Afghanistan looking to build off its last success. This series shows promise as each team tries to establish momentum ahead of the Asia Cup, and provides quality cricket and experience for players and teams that wish to gain something from the experience.
