Asia Cup 2025: Decision Expected Soon on Hosting and Format

Final Decision on Asia Cup 2025 Imminent
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is anticipated to finalize its decision regarding the Asia Cup 2025 within the upcoming week. Reports suggest that if all goes as planned, the official tournament schedule could be revealed by early July, with the event set to kick off around September 10, aligning with its proposed start in the second week of the month.
T20 Format and UAE as Potential Host
This year's Asia Cup is expected to adopt the T20 format, featuring six teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE. Although the tournament has yet to be officially confirmed, promotional efforts are reportedly underway. The United Arab Emirates is emerging as the leading candidate to host the event, while discussions about a hybrid hosting arrangement are still ongoing.
Considering a Hybrid Hosting Arrangement
India holds the official rights to host the 2025 edition. However, due to ongoing diplomatic tensions with Pakistan, there are considerations for relocating the tournament to a neutral venue or adopting a split-hosting format. Historically, matches between India and Pakistan in such tournaments have led to logistical and political complications, often resulting in alternative hosting agreements.
A similar hybrid model was implemented during the 2023 Asia Cup, where Pakistan retained hosting duties, but India's matches were moved to Sri Lanka due to their reluctance to travel across the border. Even the final was shifted to Sri Lanka after India qualified.
Political Tensions Affecting Cricket
In 2025, a comparable situation arose during the ICC Champions Trophy when India opted not to compete against Pakistan, prompting the ICC to adopt a dual-host format. India's matches, including the final, were held in the UAE after they advanced to the final. This marked the first instance of an ICC event being hosted in a dual format. In response, Pakistan announced a boycott of all future matches in India until the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle concludes in 2027.
The future of the Asia Cup has recently come under threat following a terror incident in Pahalgam in April and subsequent military operations in May. These events have further strained India-Pakistan relations, leading to increased public calls in India for a sporting boycott of Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments.