Asia Cup Set for September Start Amid Easing India-Pakistan Tensions

Asia Cup Likely to Commence Second Week of September Amidst Growing Optimism

The Asia Cup saga may be nearing a resolution. While it's still early to make definitive conclusions, there's a palpable rise in optimism surrounding the tournament, a shift from the prior uncertainty fueled by India-Pakistan tensions.

India were champions of the previous edition of the Asia Cup in 2023 © Getty

Although nothing is set in stone, a formal decision could be reached next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) anticipates releasing the schedule for the six-team competition in the first week of July, coinciding with its expected meeting.

If everything proceeds as planned, the ACC is reportedly aiming for a start date in the second week of September, with September 10 being the likely launch for the T20 format tournament. Alongside India and Pakistan, the participating nations will include Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. Promotional activities for the tournament have already commenced.

The UAE remains the leading contender to host the tournament, although discussions regarding a hybrid format are also underway. While India is the designated host, the ACC previously decided that when India or Pakistan are scheduled to host the Asia Cup, the tournament would be held at a neutral venue.

The tournament's fate was thrown into doubt following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April. The situation worsened after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, raising serious questions about the tournament's viability. Calls for India to boycott Pakistan in multilateral events also grew. India, in any case, does not participate in bilateral cricket with Pakistan. There was even speculation that India's boycott of Pakistan in global events would be discussed at the next ICC meeting.

However, recent developments in global cricket suggest a potential shift in direction. The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently unveiled the schedules for two major global events: the Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women's T20 World Cup in England. India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash in both tournaments, first on October 5 in Colombo, and then on June 14 at Edgbaston.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, and ICC have remained publicly silent, it appears that cricketing ties between the two rivals will continue, at least in global events. These matches are significant revenue generators for world cricket, benefiting global cricket rather than solely Indian cricket. While India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are not heavily reliant on revenue from these high-profile matches, governing bodies such as the ICC and ACC, along with their member boards, are.