After clearing all lingering uncertainties, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have officially announced that the 2025 Asia Cup will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The announcement came on Saturday, 26 July, by Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of both ACC and PCB.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Naqvi stated:

“I’m pleased to announce that the schedule for the 2025 Asia Cup has been finalised. The tournament will be held from 9 to 28 September 2025 in the UAE.”

He also added that the complete fixture list would be revealed soon. This edition of the Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, serving as a preparatory platform for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Tournament Format

Participating Teams

1. India
2. Pakistan
3. Sri Lanka
4. Bangladesh
5. Afghanistan
6. United Arab Emirates
7. Oman
8. Hong Kong

Venue Decision and Political Backdrop

Originally, India was selected as the host for the 2025 Asia Cup. However, ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan led to a change in venue. The Pakistan national team refused to travel to India, prompting a mutual decision to shift the tournament to a neutral venue — the UAE.

Earlier agreements between the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and PCB stated that neither side would tour the other’s country. As a result, the UAE emerged as the most practical alternative.

Majority of the matches are expected to be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are equipped with world-class facilities and have prior experience in hosting major cricket events, including the Asia Cup, IPL, and World Cup qualifiers.

Key Developments Leading to the Announcement

• The decision was finalised 48 hours after the ACC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Dhaka.
• Representatives from all 25 member nations of the ACC attended.
• Initially, the BCCI had considered boycotting the meeting, but later participated virtually, represented by Vice President Rajeev Shukla.
• Mohsin Naqvi chaired the meeting, emphasising:

“We have decided to work together in the best interest of cricket’s development.”

Political and Diplomatic Context

Although alternative venues were discussed, diplomatic tensions and logistical challenges led to their rejection. These included:

• Bangladesh-India trade disputes
• The cancellation of the India vs Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends
• Broader regional diplomatic concerns

Summary of the Announcement

With diplomatic clarity achieved and preparations underway, the 2025 Asia Cup promises to deliver high-stakes cricketing action in one of the sport’s most reliable neutral venues.