Asia Cup 2025: ACC Eyes September Start Date Amid Easing India-Pakistan Tensions

The Asia Cup saga may be nearing a resolution. While definitive conclusions are still premature, a growing sense of optimism surrounds the continental championship, signaling a 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 finalized, a formal decision is anticipated next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) aims to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in early July, coinciding with their expected meeting.

The ACC is reportedly targeting a September start, potentially on September 10, for the T20 format tournament, assuming all proceeds according to plan. The participating teams include:

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

Promotional activities for the tournament have already begun.

The UAE remains the leading candidate to host the Asia Cup, although a hybrid format is also under consideration. While India is the designated host, the ACC previously decided that a neutral venue would be used when India or Pakistan are scheduled to host, due to existing geopolitical tensions.

Uncertainty clouded the tournament following the Pahalgam attack in April. Tensions further escalated after India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, casting doubts over the tournament's future. Calls for an Indian boycott of Pakistan in multilateral events grew louder, as India already refrains from bilateral cricket with Pakistan. Discussions about a potential Indian boycott of Pakistan in global events were even suggested for the next ICC meeting.

However, recent developments suggest a shift. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently unveiled schedules for two major events:

• Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka
• Women's T20 World Cup in England

Notably, India and Pakistan are slated to clash in both tournaments – October 5 in Colombo and June 14 at Edgbaston, respectively.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, and ICC have remained silent, cricketing ties between the two rivals appear set to continue, at least in global events. These matches are significant revenue generators for world cricket, benefiting global cricket rather than solely Indian cricket. While India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aren't dependent on revenue from these high-profile encounters, governing bodies like the ICC, the ACC, and their member boards heavily rely on them.