Asia Cup 2025 Set for September Launch Amid Geopolitical Optimism

Despite previous uncertainties, the Asia Cup is now expected to proceed, with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) aiming for a start in the second week of September. This marks a significant shift from earlier doubts surrounding the tournament, largely due to geopolitical tensions.

While details are still under discussion, a final decision is anticipated next week. The ACC is also planning to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in early July, coinciding with their upcoming convention.

If everything progresses smoothly, the ACC is reportedly targeting a September 10 start date for the T20 format tournament. The participating nations are set to include India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. Promotional activities for the event have already begun.

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

The UAE remains the leading contender to host the tournament. However, the possibility of a hybrid hosting model is also being considered. Although India is the designated host, the ACC previously decided that Asia Cups scheduled to be hosted by either India or Pakistan would take place at a neutral venue, given the existing circumstances.

The tournament's future was jeopardized following the Pahalgam attack in April. Further complications arose after India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, casting further shadows over the event. Calls for India to boycott Pakistan in multilateral events also gained traction. Currently, India does not participate in bilateral cricket with Pakistan. There were even suggestions that India's potential boycott of Pakistan in global events would be a topic of discussion at the next ICC meeting.

However, recent developments in international cricket suggest a potential shift in approach. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently unveiled the schedules for two major global events: the Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women's T20 World Cup in England. In both tournaments, India and Pakistan are slated to compete against each other, first on October 5 in Colombo and subsequently on June 14 at Edgbaston.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, and ICC have remained tight-lipped, it seems that cricketing relations between the two rivals will continue, at least within the framework of global events. Matches between India and Pakistan are significant revenue generators for global cricket. Although the BCCI and India are not necessarily dependent on the income from these high-profile matches, governing bodies such as the ICC and ACC, along with their member boards, rely heavily on them.