Asia Cup 2025: ACC Eyes September 10 Start as Optimism Surges Amid Tensions

The Asia Cup saga may be nearing a resolution. While it's too early for definitive conclusions, there's a growing sense of optimism surrounding the continental championship, a shift from earlier 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 set in stone, indications suggest a formal decision may arrive 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, specifically around September 10, for the T20 format tournament. Participating teams include India, Pakistan, 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 a hybrid format is also under consideration. While India is the designated host, the ACC previously decided that when it is India or Pakistan's turn, the Asia Cup would be held at a neutral venue.

The tournament faced uncertainty following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, exacerbated by India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May. This led to calls within India to boycott Pakistan in multilateral events, given the absence of bilateral cricket between the two nations. Discussions about a potential boycott in global events were even considered for the next ICC meeting.

However, recent developments suggest a potential shift. The International Cricket Council (ICC) released schedules for the Women's ODI World Cup (in India and Sri Lanka) and the Women's T20 World Cup (in England). In both tournaments, India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash: October 5 in Colombo and June 14 at Edgbaston, respectively.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, and ICC have remained silent, it appears cricketing ties between the rivals will continue, at least in global events. These matches generate significant revenue for global cricket. While India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aren't necessarily dependent on this revenue, governing bodies like the ICC, the ACC, and their member boards are.