Despite Pahalgam Tragedy, India-Pakistan Likely To Meet In 2025 Asia Cup: Report
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Despite calls to cut ties after the Pahalgam terror attack, India and Pakistan look set to resume cricketing ties in September by playing against each other in the 2025 Asia Cup.
India and Pakistan are likely to continue their cricketing relations in multi-national tournaments, despite several calls to do otherwise from former players and stakeholders after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. According to a report in Cricbuzz, there's a growing 'optimism' at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the 2025 men's Asia Cup will go as planned, with the opening match likely on September 10.
The tournament will be played in the T20 format and will include India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. The report noted a 'marked change' from the doubts over the tournament when the Indo-Pak border tensions were at their peak in light of Operation Sindoor. It said that the ACC is set to convene in the first week of July and could release a full schedule for the six-team tournament.
India is the official host for the 2025 Asia Cup. However, as per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s prior arrangements that the Asia Cup editions hosted by them will be played in neutral venues or hybrid models, the UAE is the most likely destination.
The last edition — in 50-over format — was held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2023 and saw India and Pakistan play each other thrice. Even then, the ACC was criticised for its opaque scheduling processes and for allegedly deliberately pitting the two rivals against each other for the maximum number of times. The clash is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world and generates crucial revenue for administrative bodies.
Current all-format men's head coach Gautam Gambhir was among those who championed cutting all cricketing ties with Pakistan.
'This is my personal opinion," Gambhir said in an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 in May. 'I have said it before as well — sport, Bollywood, artists, everything is not important. The only thing that's important is the lives of our civilians and soldiers. There's nothing bigger than that. Sport can take a backseat, Bollywood movies, artists and everything can take a backseat. My personal opinion is that till this cross-border terrorism is not over, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan. It's not for the gallery. Trust me, it's not for the gallery. I am not here to take all this applause. This is my personal opinion. BCCI or the government can have a completely different opinion on it."
After the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan will also meet in the ICC Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka on October 5 in Colombo.
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June 29, 2025, 07:54 IST
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