Asia Cup 2025 to Be Held at Neutral Venue Despite India Being Host. The 2025 Asia Cup, officially hosted by India, will now be played at a neutral venue due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. This decision emerged following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which concluded on Thursday, July 24, in Dhaka.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) participated remotely, it reserved the announcement regarding the Asia Cup venue for a later date. Cricbuzz reported that the meeting proceeded without elections—particularly for the vice-president role—although the previously disputed finance bill and accounts were approved.
ACC President Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that all 25 member boards were present, either in person or virtually. “The meeting was attended by all 25 members. The BCCI will inform us about the Asia Cup in a few days,” he said while speaking to the media.
The decision to shift the tournament to a neutral venue follows rising diplomatic strain between India and Pakistan, especially after the recent Pahalgam terror attack and retaliatory drone strikes. Amid this backdrop, several Indian cricket fans and stakeholders have expressed strong opposition to engaging in cricketing ties with Pakistan, raising concerns that the tournament might even be canceled.
BCCI Likely to Announce Asia Cup Soon; Tournament Set for UAE in September
“There’s no confirmation yet, but nothing suggests the tournament won’t happen. The BCCI is ironing out some commercial matters and should announce it within a few days,” a source told Cricbuzz.
The 2025 Asia Cup is likely to feature eight teams and is tentatively scheduled from September 10 to 28. However, it might begin a few days earlier depending on scheduling adjustments.
Although the BCCI is officially hosting the tournament, matches will be held in the UAE—primarily in Dubai and Abu Dhabi—due to the Asian Cricket Council’s policy of using neutral venues when political tensions between India and Pakistan arise.
This mirrors the 2023 edition, where Pakistan hosted the tournament in the ODI format, but India played all their matches, including the final, in Sri Lanka due to government restrictions on traveling to Pakistan.
