The future of the Asia Cup 2025 is uncertain. One of cricket’s premier multi-nation tournaments is under threat of being scrapped. Amid the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, there is no certainty whether the tournament will be played in September 2025.
No India vs Pakistan match, No Asia Cup 2025
According to the Times of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may not be given a green signal to play against Pakistan. And while the venue of the Asia Cup 2025 isn’t determined yet, without a potential India vs Pakistan match, the value of the competition takes a severe hit.
The tournament is supposed to be played as preparations for the next T20 World Cup, which will be held in February 2026. But in the past decade or so, the Asia Cup has acted as a tournament where India and Pakistan face off. This makes it extremely lucrative for the boards and broadcasters. Without the arch-rivals clash, there is no purpose in organising the Asia Cup.
For the uninformed, the BCCI sends the India cricket team for any series or tournament after getting permission from the Indian government. One of the reasons why Team India hasn’t toured Pakistan is because the Indian government fears for the safety of the cricketers.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, the relationship between the two nations is at its worst. In such circumstances, it isn’t guaranteed that the Indian government will allow the BCCI to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
India tour of Bangladesh could be cancelled as well
The Asia Cup 2025 isn’t the only cricket event under threat. Following some inflammatory comments by retired Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman, where he stated that Bangladesh should think about occupying India’s northeastern states, the future of the India white-ball tour of Bangladesh is also under clouds.
Team India is to play 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is in Bangladesh from August 17 to 31. It will mark the first time the Men in Blue play a T20I series on Bangladeshi soil. But this may have to wait. After these comments, there is a chance that BCCI might have to cancel the tour.
“The tour is part of the calendar, but nothing is final yet. There is a bright possibility of India not touring Bangladesh for the ODIs and T20Is because of the current situation,” a source told the Times of India.
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