Asia Cup 2025: Tournament Set for September Start as India-Pakistan Tensions Ease

Hopes are rising for the Asia Cup as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) aims to commence the tournament in the second week of September. This marks a shift from previous uncertainties fueled by tensions between India and Pakistan.

India were champions of the previous edition of the Asia Cup in 2023 © Getty

While a final decision is anticipated next week, the ACC plans to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in early July, coinciding with their expected meeting.

The ACC is tentatively targeting September 10 for the start of the T20 format tournament, should everything proceed smoothly. Alongside cricketing giants India and Pakistan, the event will likely feature Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. Promotional activities are reportedly underway.

The UAE remains the leading candidate to host the Asia Cup, though a hybrid format is under consideration. While India is the designated host, ACC regulations stipulate a neutral venue when either India or Pakistan is scheduled to host, due to existing circumstances.

Uncertainty surrounding the tournament arose after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Relations worsened following India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, jeopardizing the tournament's future and sparking calls for a boycott of Pakistan in multilateral events. Notably, India does not participate in bilateral cricket with Pakistan. Discussions regarding a potential Indian boycott of Pakistan in global events were even rumored for the next ICC meeting.

However, recent developments suggest a possible shift. The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled schedules for the Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women's T20 World Cup in England. India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash in both tournaments, on October 5 in Colombo and June 14 at Edgbaston, respectively.

Despite the silence from BCCI, ACC, and ICC officials, cricketing ties between the rivals appear set to continue, at least in global events. These matches are significant revenue streams for global cricket, benefiting the ICC, ACC, and their member boards more so than the BCCI, which is not as dependent on these high-profile encounters.