Asia Cup 2025: ACC Targets September Launch Amid Easing India-Pakistan Tensions

The Asia Cup saga may be nearing a resolution. While definitive conclusions remain premature, a growing sense of optimism surrounds the continental championship, a significant 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

Although nothing is set in stone, a formal decision could be reached next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is aiming to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in the first week of July, coinciding with a planned meeting.

The ACC is reportedly targeting a start date in the second week of September, potentially around September 10, for the T20 format tournament. Participants are expected to include:

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

Promotional activities for the tournament are already underway.

The UAE remains the leading contender to host the event, although a hybrid format is also under consideration. While India is the designated host, ACC previously decided that Asia Cups hosted during India or Pakistan's turn would be held at neutral venues.

The tournament faced uncertainty after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Tensions further escalated following India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, raising concerns about the tournament's viability and leading to calls for India to boycott Pakistan in multilateral events. India currently does not participate in bilateral cricket with Pakistan.

Recent developments suggest a potential shift. The International Cricket Council (ICC) released schedules for two major 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.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, and ICC have refrained from public statements, cricketing ties between the two rivals seem likely to continue, at least in global events. These matches are significant revenue streams for global cricket, benefiting the ICC, ACC, and their member boards. While India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aren't necessarily dependent on revenue from these high-profile encounters, the governing bodies heavily rely on it.