LAHORE (Kashmir English): The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held from September 12 to 28, with matches expected to take place in a T20 format. While India remains the official host, there are strong chances that key games, especially high-voltage encounters like India vs Pakistan, will be played at a neutral venue, most likely in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the media reports, the UAE and Sri Lanka emerged as front-runners to co-host the event. However, it now appears that the UAE has been finalised as the neutral venue, likely to accommodate any fixture involving Pakistan.
This follows a precedent set during past events, such as the Champions Trophy 2025, where India’s matches were played in Dubai when Pakistan was the host.
Earlier in May, rumours surfaced that India might skip the Asia Cup 2025, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) swiftly denied such claims.
More recently, a promotional poster for the tournament featuring only India and Sri Lanka began circulating on social media, raising eyebrows over the absence of Pakistan and fueling speculations about their participation, particularly due to the strained political ties between the two neighbouring nations.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia recently dismissed reports of India boycotting the event, reaffirming that the board is awaiting a nod from the Indian government regarding their participation.
“There is no discussion or even a remote thought about boycotting Asia Cup 2025 matches. We play Pakistan in the ICC events, and it will go on if our government doesn’t say otherwise. As for the Asia Cup, we will know in the coming days,” a BCCI official said.
According to the report, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is set to release the schedule for the six-team tournament at the start of July.
Moreover, the tournament is set to commence in the second week of September in the T20 format. With nothing official yet, the most probable date for the start of the Asia Cup 2025 is 10 September.
Six teams will participate in the Asia Cup 2025, including the five full Asian Cricket Council (ACC) members: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. They will be joined by the UAE.
The tournament also serves as a preparatory ground for the T20 World Cup 2026, giving teams a chance to test their combinations and strategies in competitive conditions.
