Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting year in 2025, as the iconic rivals, India and Pakistan, are set to clash potentially three more times during the Asia Cup. Following their anticipated encounter in the Champions Trophy, the Asia Cup will be held in a T20 format, allowing both teams to gear up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026.
The hosting rights for the 2025 Asia Cup were awarded to India; however, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has opted for a neutral venue. Reports suggest that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka are front-runners to host the tournament, ensuring a fair playing ground for all participating teams.
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This arrangement mirrors the 2018 situation, where India hosted the rights, but the tournament was conducted in the UAE due to political tensions.
The decision to hold the Asia Cup outside India stemmed from the considerable backlash that followed the 2023 edition, which faced significant controversy as India refused to travel to Pakistan.
The tournament was ultimately conducted in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka as a co-host, with all Indian matches held in Pallekele and Colombo. This history underscores the logistical and political complexities surrounding matches between these two cricketing giants.
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Scheduled for late September 2025, the tournament is expected to feature 19 matches with the participation of eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. Notably, India and Pakistan will likely be pooled together in the group stage, hence if both teams advance, their rivalry could heat up with three possible encounters, including a historic final.
This is significant as the two teams have never met in the final of the Asia Cup across 16 editions. As cricket fans eagerly await these bouts, the 2025 Asia Cup promises to be another thrilling chapter in the ongoing saga of India-Pakistan cricket confrontations.