Asia Cup 2025: ACC Targets September Start as Optimism Surges Amid Geopolitical Shifts

The Asia Cup tournament is showing promising signs of moving forward, despite previous uncertainties. While official confirmation is still pending, a renewed sense of optimism surrounds the continental championship. This marks a significant shift from earlier doubts fueled by tensions between India and Pakistan.

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

A formal decision regarding the Asia Cup is expected next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) aims to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in early July, coinciding with a planned meeting.

Tentative Schedule and Participating Teams

The ACC is reportedly aiming for a September 10 start date, contingent on successful planning. This year's tournament will be played in the T20 format. The participating teams include:

• India
• Pakistan
• Afghanistan
• Sri Lanka
• Bangladesh
• UAE

Promotional activities for the tournament have already commenced.

Venue Considerations: UAE and Hybrid Options

The UAE remains the primary candidate to host the tournament. However, discussions are ongoing regarding a possible hybrid hosting arrangement. Due to existing agreements, the Asia Cup is to be held at a neutral venue when either India or Pakistan is the designated host.

Overcoming Uncertainty

The tournament's future was previously uncertain following events in April and May, leading to concerns about India's participation and calls for boycotts of Pakistan in multilateral events.

Shifting Dynamics in World Cricket

Recent developments suggest a potential shift in the situation. The ICC has released schedules for the Women's ODI World Cup (hosted by India and Sri Lanka) and the Women's T20 World Cup in England. Notably, India and Pakistan are scheduled to compete against each other in both tournaments, on October 5 in Colombo and June 14 at Edgbaston, respectively.

While official statements from the BCCI, ACC, or ICC are pending, these scheduled matches indicate a continuation of cricketing ties between the two nations, at least in global events. These high-profile matches are significant revenue generators for global cricket. While India and the BCCI may not heavily rely on this revenue, governing bodies like the ICC and ACC, along with their member boards, do.