Asia Cup 2025: ACC Tentatively Schedules September Start Amid Rising Hopes

The Asia Cup saga might be nearing a resolution. While it's too early for definitive conclusions, a wave of optimism surrounds the continental championship, a stark contrast to previous uncertainties fueled by India-Pakistan tensions.

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

Although concrete decisions are pending, a formal announcement is anticipated next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) aims to finalize and release the schedule for the six-team tournament in early July, coinciding with their expected convention.

The ACC is reportedly targeting a September start, specifically the second week. The T20 format tournament is tentatively scheduled to commence on September 10. Besides India and Pakistan, participating teams will include Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. Promotional activities for the tournament are already underway.

The UAE remains the leading candidate to host the tournament, although discussions about a hybrid hosting model are also ongoing. While India is the designated host, previous ACC decisions stipulate that Asia Cup tournaments scheduled in India or Pakistan must be held at a neutral venue.

The tournament faced uncertainty following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Tensions further escalated after India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, jeopardizing the tournament's future. Calls for an Indian boycott of Pakistan in multilateral events intensified, as India already avoids bilateral cricket with Pakistan. The potential discussion of this boycott at the next ICC meeting was also rumored.

However, recent developments suggest a 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. India and Pakistan are slated to clash in both tournaments – on October 5 in Colombo and June 14 at Edgbaston.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, and ICC have remained silent, cricketing ties between the rivals seem set to continue, at least in global events. These matches are significant revenue streams for global cricket, particularly for governing bodies like the ICC and ACC, and their member boards. While India and the BCCI might not heavily rely on this revenue, these organizations do.