Asia Cup 2025: India vs Pakistan Clash LOOMS as BCCI Confirms Tournament in UAE

Highly Anticipated Rivalry Set for Neutral Venue. BCCI to Host T20 Tournament in September, Dubai Likely Key Location

July 24, 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to host the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a formal announcement expected in the coming days. This significant decision was reportedly made following a crucial Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting held virtually and in Dhaka on Thursday, attended by representatives from all 25 member nations.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla represented India at the virtual meeting. While an official statement is pending, an anonymous ACC source quoted by PTI indicated, “The BCCI will host the Asia Cup in the UAE. India is likely to play all its matches in Dubai. There are still deliberations on scheduling.”

The tournament, which will be played in the T20 format, is slated for a little over a fortnight in September 2025. It is crucial for the tournament to conclude before the final week of the month, as India’s Test series against West Indies is scheduled to commence then.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the ACC meeting took place and stated that Rajeev Shukla would brief the members, adding, “I don’t believe in speculations so you will get to know officially in a few days time.”

Sources further suggest that a highly anticipated India versus Pakistan clash is likely to be a highlight of the tournament, with both teams potentially drawn into the same group. This would mark the first cricketing encounter between the two nations since heightened tensions in April-May following the Pahalgam attack. The BCCI is reportedly in touch with the Indian government for permission to play Pakistan.

Despite India holding the hosting rights for this edition, the decision to play in a neutral venue like the UAE stems from a mutual understanding between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to avoid playing in each other’s countries. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are identified as likely venues, with the BCCI having a deal with the Emirates Cricket Board for three venues, though only two are expected to be used for the Asia Cup. The tournament is also seen as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup, scheduled for February next year in India and Sri Lanka.