ISLAMABAD: Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Saturday the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup will be staged in the United Arab Emirates in September following a contentious venue dispute that threatened to derail the event.
India was due to host the T20 tournament, but rising tensions with Pakistan, exacerbated by a military standoff in May, and disagreements over the ACC’s Annual General Meeting in Dhaka led to weeks of uncertainty.
New Delhi initially refused to attend the meeting and questioned the neutrality of Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board and serves as the country’s interior minister. However, Indian authorities later joined the gathering via video link.
“I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in UAE,” Naqvi announced in a social media post on X. “The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th.”
“We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket,” he added. “Detailed schedule will be out soon.”
India and Pakistan have not hosted each other for a bilateral series in over a decade, with political and security concerns consistently spilling over into cricketing ties.
Last year’s Asia Cup in 2023 was marred by similar discord, as Pakistan was the official host and India refused to travel.
The ACC then implemented a hybrid model, splitting matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
All India fixtures— including the final— were held in Sri Lanka, while Pakistan hosted only non-India group games.
The workaround preserved Pakistan’s hosting rights while accommodating India’s participation.
The ACC has reached a similar compromise this year, with the UAE, an established neutral venue, stepping in to host all matches.
The tournament in September will feature eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong.
A group-stage clash between India and Pakistan is likely, with the event also serving as a key warm-up for the ICC T20 World Cup in early 2026.