The 2025 Asia Cup cricket tournament, scheduled to be hosted by India in September, faces uncertainty following recent clashes between India and Pakistan. The long-standing rivalry between the two nuclear-armed neighbours worsened after four days of intense fighting before a ceasefire was reached last month.
Officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said no discussions have taken place yet regarding the Asia Cup, as their focus remains on the Indian Premier League and an upcoming tour of England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declined to comment on their team’s participation, stating they would “cross that bridge when we come to it.”
The Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the PCB, was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, the ACC recently postponed the women’s Emerging Asia Cup due to weather and a chikungunya outbreak in Sri Lanka, the host nation. Pakistan will play their matches in Sri Lanka during the women’s 50-over World Cup under a special ICC arrangement.
Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2013, with encounters limited to multi-team events. India refused to travel to Pakistan for this year’s Champions Trophy, hosting all matches in Dubai instead.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has publicly opposed playing Pakistan even at neutral venues but has stated he will abide by BCCI decisions.
