Cricket fans may be treated to an exhilarating series of India-Pakistan clashes as the men’s Asia Cup is set to return in September 2025, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has reportedly scheduled the tournament for a tentative window between the second and fourth weeks of September. The 2025 Asia Cup will feature a T20 format and is expected to see 19 exciting matches.

Though India is the official host for the 2025 edition, the tournament is likely to take place in Sri Lanka or the UAE due to the historically fraught relationship between India and Pakistan. The ACC has opted for neutral venues for all future tournaments where either India or Pakistan are the hosts, a decision likely influenced by the two countries’ longstanding political tensions. Despite being the host nation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will not host the tournament in India.

This decision is part of an ongoing trend, as the same tensions surrounded the lead-up to the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was initially scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan. The release of the Champions Trophy schedule had been delayed due to deliberations between the BCCI, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Concerns over security led to the agreement on a hybrid model, with India’s matches set to take place in the UAE.

In terms of the upcoming Asia Cup, fans can expect the iconic India-Pakistan rivalry to be a major feature. The two nations have consistently been placed in the same group for ICC tournaments, given the commercial appeal of their clashes. The eight participating teams will likely be divided into two groups, with India and Pakistan once again expected to be in the same group. This could set the stage for multiple encounters, including a Super Four stage match, where the two teams may meet for the second time.

Should both teams advance to the final, this would lead to a potential third meeting in the tournament, much to the anticipation of fans worldwide. With Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong also set to take part, the 2025 Asia Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle. However, Nepal, which participated in the 2023 tournament, has not qualified for this edition.

As the tournament nears, cricket enthusiasts will be eagerly awaiting the chance to witness the intensifying rivalry between India and Pakistan once again on the international stage.