Asia Cup 2025: Schedule, Format, and Potential India-Pakistan Clashes

The Asia Cup is tentatively scheduled for September, with the potential for multiple India-Pakistan matches. The tournament will be played in the T20 format and is expected to feature 19 games between the second and fourth weeks of September.

Tournament Venue

Originally allotted to India, the Asia Cup 2025 will be held in a neutral country due to the India-Pakistan dynamics. While the venue is yet to be finalized, the UAE and Sri Lanka are being considered. The BCCI will remain the designated host.

ACC Decision

A key decision by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) dictates that the tournament must be held in a neutral country when it is the turn of either the BCCI or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to stage it. This decision aims to avoid controversies related to teams not wanting to travel to each other’s countries, as seen during the Champions Trophy. India’s matches in the Champions Trophy were held in Dubai due to this arrangement, leading the PCB to seek a similar arrangement for the upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Weather Considerations

The September weather could pose a challenge for cricket, but the T20 format allows for matches to be held in the cooler evening temperatures.

Participating Teams and Format

Eight teams will participate in the Asia Cup 2025: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. Nepal, who participated in the previous edition, has failed to qualify this time.

The teams will be divided into two groups, with India and Pakistan in the same group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, and the top two from that stage will compete in the final. This format ensures at least two matches between India and Pakistan, with a potential third match if both teams reach the final.

Asia Cup Cycle

There are four Asia Cups in the current cycle ending in 2031. After the 2025 edition, Bangladesh will host the 2027 edition (ODI format, 13 games). A T20 format edition (19 games) will follow, hosted by the PCB in a neutral country. Finally, the 2031 edition (ODI format, 13 games) will be held in Sri Lanka.

Champions Trophy 2025 Context

The India vs Pakistan match in the Champions Trophy 2025 saw India winning by six wickets. The upcoming Asia Cup 2025 could provide up to three more opportunities for these teams to clash.