New Delhi (National Times): The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is expected to finalize its decision on the 2025 Asia Cup in the coming week, with the official schedule likely to be released in early July, according to a report by Cricbuzz. If all goes as planned, the tournament will begin around September 10, aligning with the second week of the month as tentatively proposed.
T20 Format Returns; UAE Emerges as Likely Host
The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup will return to the T20 format and feature six teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates. While an official announcement is still pending, promotional activities are reportedly underway behind the scenes. The UAE is being considered the front-runner to host the tournament, though a hybrid hosting model remains under active discussion.
India Holds Hosting Rights, But Hybrid Model Likely
India officially holds the hosting rights for this edition. However, ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have cast doubt over India hosting the full tournament on home soil. As a result, the ACC is exploring options to relocate the tournament to a neutral venue or adopt a hybrid format, in which matches involving India could be staged outside the host country.
This approach echoes the model used during the 2023 Asia Cup, when Pakistan was the designated host, but India’s matches—including the final—were shifted to Sri Lanka due to New Delhi’s unwillingness to send its team across the border.
Ongoing Political Tensions Continue to Influence Cricket
The strained relationship between India and Pakistan continues to impact bilateral and multilateral cricket events. Earlier this year, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy was also affected, with India refusing to play in Pakistan. That led the ICC to opt for a dual-host format, with India’s matches and the final held in the UAE. This marked the first time an ICC event adopted a dual-host structure due to political circumstances.
In retaliation, Pakistan has announced it will boycott all cricketing events in India until the end of the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle, which concludes in 2027.
Recent terror incidents in Pahalgam (April) and military operations in May have further soured bilateral ties, fueling public sentiment in India for a complete sporting boycott of Pakistan in international tournaments.
What’s Next?
While the ACC is expected to provide clarity in the coming days, the fate of India’s participation—and the overall hosting arrangement—hinges on both political and logistical negotiations. The cricketing world now awaits the official schedule and confirmation on whether the Asia Cup 2025 can proceed without further complications.
