The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is likely to take a final decision on the Asia Cup 2025 within the next week. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the official tournament calendar could be announced during early July, if everything goes smoothly. The tournament is planned to commence around September 10, in line with its suggested launch in the second week of the month.
T20 Format Back; UAE Likely To Host
This year’s Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format and will likely host six teams that are, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE. While the tournament has not been officially announced yet, promotional campaigns have reportedly been initiated in the background. The United Arab Emirates has come forward as the front-runner to host the event, although talks for a hybrid hosting model are ongoing.
Also Read: Team India Prepares For Edgbaston Test As Uncertainty Looms Over Jasprit Bumrah’s Participation
Hybrid Hosting Model Under Consideration
India has the official hosting rights for the 2025 edition. Because of persistent diplomatic tension with Pakistan, though, the proposal of relocating the tournament to a neutral site or to a split-venue format is being considered. Traditionally, India-Pakistan matches in such tournaments have caused logistical and political challenges, which normally result in alternative hosting deals.
A similar hybrid model was used in the 2023 Asia Cup, with Pakistan keeping hosting responsibilities but India’s games being shifted to Sri Lanka as they did not want to cross the border. Even the final, after India qualified, was moved to Sri Lanka.
Also Read: WATCH: Punjab Batter Dies On Pitch After Hitting Six! Viral Video Shock Fans
Political Tensions Also Continue To Impact The Game
A similar incident earlier in 2025 was with the ICC Champions Trophy. India refused to play against Pakistan, forcing the ICC to go for a dual-host format. India’s matches, including the final, were hosted in the UAE after they made it to the final. That tournament saw an ICC event being hosted in a dual-host format for the first time. In retaliation, Pakistan has subsequently announced a boycott of all future games in India until the ongoing Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle is completed in 2027.
The future of the Asia Cup was recently jeopardized after an April terror incident in Pahalgam and recent military operations in May. These developments have put the India-Pakistan relations under additional stress, and there is increased public demand in India for the sporting boycott of Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments.
