New host decided for Asia Cup 2025 amid fears of cancellation; clarity may come next month: Report

The suspense over Asia Cup 2025 could end next month. Meanwhile, a new host has reportedly been picked for the tournament that could see India play against Pakistan. read more

Asia Cup 2025 will reportedly not be hosted in India despite BCCI being the hosts. Image: PTI

The 2025 Asia Cup is reportedly set to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite India being hosts; however, question marks still hover around whether the tournament will be played in the first place. The decision on that can come as early as August.

The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be played in September in the T20I format. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the designated host for the Asia Cup 2025, but it was reported in the past that the tournament would be hosted at a neutral venue to ensure India vs Pakistan matches go ahead without any hiccup.

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According to a report in Forbes, the UAE has now emerged as the most likely host for the Asia Cup 2025, if the tournament goes ahead. The biggest threat to the event is the worsening relationship between India and Pakistan following the April Pahalgam terror attack.

Also Read | With Asia Cup appearing highly unlikely, PCB comes up with alternate plan

The BCCI has always sought the Indian government’s approval for playing against Pakistan, but after the breakdown in relationships between the two neighbours since the terror attack and India’s strong retaliatory actions through Operation Sindoor, there are high chances that India may pull out of the Asia Cup 2025.

In case India withdraw, the Asia Cup 2025 is expected to be cancelled as the India vs Pakistan matches are the biggest attractions of the tournament, which also leads to expensive media rights. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) won the media rights for the Asia Cup in 2024 for eight years for a sum of US$ 170 million. But if India pull out, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which conducts the tournament, is set to lose millions.

Also Read | How Pakistan cricket, Asia Cup will be impacted if BCCI withdraws

Major media houses in India have already reported that the BCCI is set to boycott the Asia Cup 2025 as the ACC is currently headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has since denied these reports , but the dominating sentiment is that India will eventually boycott the tournament.

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The final decision could be made next month after the ICC Annual General Meeting in Singapore.

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