• India-Pakistan contest on the cards? 

There were doubts about the Asia Cup 2025 after the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. 

Following the tensions between India and Pakistan, it was not known whether the tournament would go ahead later this year. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced calls from several sections to boycott all matches with Pakistan and not play them in either ACC or ICC events. 

However, according to a report in Cricbuzz, the path for the Asia Cup 2025 has been eased, and the organisers are looking to go ahead with the tournament later this year.

The report states that the organisers are optimistic about proceeding with the Asia Cup 2025 in September. A formal decision could be made in the coming week.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is also planning to release the schedule for the six-team tournament in the first week of July. 

This year, the tournament will be played in the T20 format, and the organisers are looking at 10 September as the start date.

If all goes to plan, the Asia Cup 2025 will feature India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE. The UAE remain the frontrunner to host the tournament.

The report in Cricbuzz also states that there are some discussions going on about holding the Asia Cup in a hybrid model. 

India are the designated host for the tournament this year, but the ACC had earlier decided that whenever India and Pakistan's turn comes to host the Asia Cup, the competition would be held in a neutral venue. 

(Agencies)