Asia Cup 2025: ACC Aims for September Start as Optimism Surges Amid Geopolitical Shifts

The Asia Cup saga might be nearing a resolution. Although definitive conclusions remain premature, a palpable sense of optimism has emerged regarding the continental championship, a significant shift from the earlier uncertainty fueled by tensions between India and Pakistan.

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

While concrete details are pending, sources suggest a formal decision could materialize next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is reportedly aiming to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in the first week of July, coinciding with a planned meeting.

Tentative Start Date and Participating Teams

The ACC is reportedly targeting a launch in the second week of September, with September 10th being considered as a likely start date, should everything proceed as planned. The T20 format tournament will feature India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. Promotional activities for the tournament have already commenced.

Venue Considerations: UAE or Hybrid Model?

The UAE remains the leading contender to host the tournament. However, discussions are ongoing regarding a potential hybrid format. Due to existing agreements, when it is India or Pakistan's turn to host the Asia Cup, the event is held at a neutral venue.

Initial Uncertainty and Shifting Dynamics

The tournament's fate was initially clouded by the terror attack in Pahalgam in April, compounded by India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May. Calls for boycotting Pakistan in multilateral events grew louder, given India's existing stance of not engaging in bilateral cricket with them. There was even speculation that a potential boycott by India would be discussed at the upcoming ICC meeting.

Signs of Thawing Relations?

Recent developments in the global cricket landscape suggest a possible shift. The ICC recently unveiled schedules for the Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, as well as the Women's T20 World Cup in England. Notably, India and Pakistan are slated to clash in both tournaments, on October 5th in Colombo and June 14th at Edgbaston, respectively.

While official statements from the BCCI, ACC, or ICC are absent, these scheduled matches imply a continuation of cricketing ties between the two rivals, at least within the framework of global events. These encounters generate significant revenue for global cricket. While India and the BCCI might not be heavily reliant on this revenue, governing bodies like the ICC and ACC, along with their member boards, certainly are.