New Delhi: The 2025 Men’s Asia Cup is set to be relocated from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) scrambles to salvage the tournament in the wake of rising tensions between India and Pakistan. While no official confirmation has been issued, reports suggest that the UAE has emerged as the preferred host, with a final decision likely to be taken during the ICC Annual General Meeting in Singapore next month.
Originally scheduled to be held in India, the tournament’s fate has been hanging in the balance due to strained diplomatic relations between the subcontinental rivals, which intensified following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives. The attack and India’s military response have pushed the two nuclear-armed neighbors to the brink of another confrontation, raising fears over the feasibility of hosting a multinational event involving both countries.
According to Forbes, ACC chairman and current PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) chief Mohsin Naqvi is overseeing efforts to ensure the tournament proceeds, even if under changed circumstances. The UAE, with its experience in hosting high-profile cricket events at short notice—including previous IPL editions and Champions Trophy matches—has now been identified as the most viable alternative.
Sri Lanka, which hosted the previous Asia Cup in 2023, was also in contention, but the UAE appears to have secured the nod due to its neutrality and proven logistics.
Despite several Indian media reports speculating about the possible cancellation of the event, officials remain cautiously optimistic. A source close to the ACC told Forbes, “Things have been quiet amid the tension, and there is much to play out, but there is still time.”
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied claims that India is planning to opt out of the tournament. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed the speculation, stating, “Such news is devoid of any truth. As of now, BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the upcoming ACC events, let alone writing anything to the ACC. Our current focus is on the IPL and the upcoming England series for both men and women.”
The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled to be played in the T20 format, serving as a preparatory platform for teams ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.
If finalized, the shift to the UAE would mark another instance of cricket adapting to geopolitical realities, continuing a recent trend where matches between India and Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments are held at neutral venues to avoid disruptions.
