The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry may be reignited this September, as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is reportedly finalizing plans to host the Asia Cup 2025. According to Cricbuzz, talks are progressing positively, with the ACC targeting the second week of September—likely around September 10—as the tournament window.
ACC Finalizing Schedule and Venue Options
The ACC is currently working on finalizing the full schedule, with an official announcement expected by July. The tournament is expected to follow the T20 format, aligning with preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, which is only a few months away.
The six-team tournament will feature India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and Afghanistan. The format will likely include group stages followed by knockout rounds, giving fans several high-stakes matchups, including a possible early clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.
UAE Likely Host, Hybrid Format Under Consideration
The United Arab Emirates is emerging as the frontrunner to host the tournament, thanks to its strong infrastructure and history of successfully managing high-profile cricket events. However, there is still some discussion around using a hybrid model—similar to what was explored in past editions—to accommodate political and logistical challenges.
The ACC’s optimism about hosting the tournament has grown after the ICC released the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule, which included both India and Pakistan in the same group. This suggests that despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, cricketing ties between the two nations could see a temporary but thrilling revival on neutral ground.
As fans around the world eagerly await confirmation, all eyes are now on the ACC to finalize the details and officially announce the Asia Cup 2025 schedule in the coming weeks.
