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

The Asia Cup tournament may be on track after recent setbacks. While it's still too early for definitive conclusions, optimism is growing around the continental championship, a significant shift from previous uncertainties fueled by tensions between India and Pakistan.

While nothing is set in stone, a formal decision could be reached next week. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) aims to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in early July, coinciding with their expected meeting.

If everything progresses smoothly, the ACC is reportedly targeting a start in the second week of September. Specifically, the T20 format tournament is likely to commence on September 10, featuring teams from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. Promotional activities are already underway.

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

The UAE remains the leading candidate to host the tournament, although a hybrid format is also under consideration. While India is the designated host, the ACC previously decided that Asia Cup tournaments hosted by either India or Pakistan would be held at a neutral venue.

The tournament faced uncertainty following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April. The situation worsened after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, casting doubts on the tournament's future. Calls for an Indian boycott of Pakistan in multilateral events also increased, especially given India's existing policy of not engaging in bilateral cricket with Pakistan. There was even speculation about discussing an Indian boycott of Pakistan in global events at the next ICC meeting.

However, recent developments in world cricket suggest a change in direction. The International Cricket Council (ICC) released schedules for two 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 play each other in both tournaments - on October 5 in Colombo and on June 14 at Edgbaston.

While officials from the BCCI, ACC, or ICC have remained silent, cricketing ties between the two rivals appear set to continue, at least in global events. These matches are significant revenue generators for global cricket. While India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) don't heavily rely on revenue from these encounters, governing bodies like the ICC, the ACC, and their member boards do.