The cricket world is buzzing again, but not because of a thrilling match. This time, the spotlight is on the growing uncertainty, with the Asia Cup 2025 in doubt after India and Sri Lanka refused to attend a crucial Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dhaka. As a result, the future of the tournament suddenly seems unclear.
To begin with, the ACC had planned a key meeting in Dhaka on July 24 to discuss the tournament’s planning and schedule. However, both India and Sri Lanka decided not to attend. According to reports, they cited political unrest in Bangladesh as the main reason for skipping the meeting.
As a result, their absence raised serious questions about the progress of the event. ACC officials planned this meeting to finalise logistics, confirm hosting arrangements, and resolve any remaining issues. But now, with two major cricketing nations pulling out, the process has hit a roadblock.
Thankfully, the ACC responded by allowing both India and Sri Lanka to attend the meeting virtually. People see this as a way to keep them involved without requiring their physical presence in Dhaka. Even so, their decision not to travel has made things more complicated.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first sign of problems. Lately, India has decided to delay its planned bilateral visit to Bangladesh. While the official reason was scheduling conflicts, many believe ongoing diplomatic tensions played a big role in that decision. Here’s where things get even more tricky. India is officially supposed to host the Asia Cup 2025, set to begin on September 5. But now, due to the current uncertainty, the host venue might change.
For instance, there are talks about moving the tournament to a neutral venue, possibly the UAE. This would not be the first time the 2023 edition also followed a hybrid format. Moreover, with Pakistan not touring India until 2027, holding the tournament elsewhere might be the only way forward.
Time is running out. With less than two months left until the tournament’s scheduled start, important decisions are still pending. Fans are eagerly waiting, teams need clarity, and the host board must prepare. However, none of this can happen until the situation is resolved.
To make matters worse, this isn’t the first time the Asia Cup has faced issues due to politics. Similar disruptions occurred in 1986, 1990, and even 2023. So once again, off-field matters are taking the spotlight away from the game itself.
At this point, India and Sri Lanka are likely to attend the ACC meeting online. If discussions remain stuck, the ACC may shift the tournament to a different location, with the UAE being a strong contender. In the meantime, the ACC has reached out to the BCCI to get some clarity on their hosting plans. Officials expect a response soon, and their next actions could determine the tournament’s fate.
In conclusion, the Asia Cup 2025 in doubt is no longer just speculation. Officials may delay this major cricket event or even change its venue if they don’t make key decisions quickly and teams don’t cooperate. For now, fans can only hope that the love of cricket brings all parties back to the table and the tournament goes ahead as planned.
