India’s commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 highlighted their dominance in all departments. However, cricket fans could witness at least three more high-stakes India-Pakistan encounters later this year in the Asia Cup, which will be played in the T20 format. According to a Cricbuzz report, the tournament is set to take place between the second and fourth week of September and will feature 19 matches.
While India was originally allotted the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2025, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to stage the event at a neutral venue due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. Though the final location is yet to be confirmed, Sri Lanka and the UAE are being considered as potential hosts, with the BCCI remaining the designated host despite the relocation.
The ongoing India-Pakistan standoff over hosting rights has already affected the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan is the official host of the tournament, but the BCCI refused to send the Indian team to play in Pakistan, leading to India’s matches being moved to Dubai.
“A key recent decision of the ACC was that the tournament be held in a neutral country when it is the turn of either the BCCI or the PCB to stage it. A document in possession of this website states clearly,” the Cricbuzz report revealed.
“This decision, understandably, is to avoid any controversy about the India and Pakistan teams not wanting to travel to each other’s countries.”
The Asia Cup 2025 will feature eight teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. The traditional tournament format divides teams into two groups of four, with India and Pakistan placed in the same group to maximize chances of high-profile clashes.
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Four stage, followed by the final between the two best-performing teams. Given this structure, at least two India-Pakistan matches are almost guaranteed, with a third possible if both teams reach the final.
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