Asia Cup 2025 To Go Ahead Amid India-Pakistan Tensions, UAE Likely Host

India-Pakistan conflict forces Asia Cup 2025 venue shift, ACC eyes UAE for hosting

The fate of the Asia Cup 2025 was put into severe jeopardy after there was a terror strike on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in April that fueled tensions between India and Pakistan. This led to outrage in India, with demands being made for boycotting all cultural and sports relations with Pakistan.

Against this background, there was renewed speculation that BCCI could pull out of matches against Pakistan. Still, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) seems resolute to proceed with the six-nation tournament in September.

Who Will Host the Asia Cup Now?

India was first selected as the host, but deteriorating diplomatic relations have made that impossible. The UAE now stands out as the top choice, with the ACC reportedly considering both a full venue change and a hybrid hosting format.

Pre-promotion activities are already in motion, indicating the ACC’s seriousness. A teaser with T20I captains, India’s Suryakumar Yadav, Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, and Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto, was broadcast during the India vs England Test in Leeds, which indicates that preparations are underway.

The tournament will feature India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the UAE and will be conducted in the T20 format. The complete schedule is likely to be announced in the first week of July, with the first match probably on September 10.

PCB Working on Backup Series

To cover against cancellation or postponement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working on a backup tri-series. Negotiations are in hand with Afghanistan and the UAE for a rescue tournament in August, in case the Asia Cup could not be held as scheduled. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the current head of the ACC, is directly involved in negotiations.

Gambhir Calls for Complete Suspension of Relations

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir once again asserted his strong position for the severing of sporting relations with Pakistan. Speaking in a recent interview, he opined that the lives of civilians and soldiers should take precedence over cricket and entertainment. “Until cross-border terrorism ceases, there should be no match, no movie, nothing,” he insisted.

India-Pakistan to Face Off in Women’s ODI World Cup

Irrespective of how things go with the Asia Cup, the India vs Pakistan big-ticket fixture will make its comeback on October 5 in Colombo in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. As regional politics and cricket calendars are at loggerheads yet again, the match remains suspended between diplomacy and defiance of diplomacy.