The 2025 Asia Cup is facing significant uncertainty as key member nations India and Sri Lanka have opted out of a crucial Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting scheduled for July 24 in Dhaka.
Their refusal to attend has cast fresh doubts over the tournament’s future, particularly as political tensions continue to mount between India and Bangladesh, adding to the already frosty relations between India and Pakistan.
According to ACC insiders, the meeting will proceed as planned despite the absences, with an online participation option made available to all member boards. The session coincides with the Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I tri-series from July 20 to 24, which was one reason the ACC chose Dhaka as the venue. It would also have marked the first time in years that Bangladesh hosted an ACC gathering.
The build-up to the 2025 Asia Cup has been overshadowed by political complexities. India has already deferred a scheduled tour of Bangladesh from August this year to September 2026, officially citing international commitments. But diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka are believed to be a key underlying cause, and Sri Lanka’s refusal to attend the Dhaka meeting appears to be in solidarity with India.
The upcoming ACC meeting is expected to play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the 2025 Asia Cup. The final schedule and the venue for the competition are all expected to be on the agenda for the meeting.
Despite being the official hosts, India is not expected to host the tournament, with the UAE looking like a neutral option. The ACC has reportedly already sent an official letter to the BCCI seeking clarity on whether India still intends to host the Asia Cup. As of now, no reply has been received, leaving participating nations in limbo as they await confirmation of the tournament’s venue and viability.
With less than two months to go before the scheduled start of the Asia Cup 2025, time is quickly running out. Unless the BCCI responds soon and member boards can reach a consensus, the tournament may once again fall victim to the uneasy ties that continue to shape South Asian cricket diplomacy.
