The Asian Cricket Council have revealed India and Bangladesh as Hosts for Asia Cup 2025 and 2027 editions. It will be the first time since 2016 that Bangladesh will host the Asia Cup while for India it will be the first time since 1990 that India will be hosting the event.
The Asian Championship tournament has been used as a rehearsal for the ICC events and played in the format in which the ICC tournament will be held. The 2025 Asia Cup will be played in a T20I format to prepare for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, also in India, and 2027 will be played in an ODI format to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be played in South Africa.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka last hosted the tournament together in 2023. Pakistan were supposed to hold the complete game, only for India to intervene and propose a hybrid model which was eventually accepted.
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What are the formats for the Hosts for Asia Cup 2025 and 2027?
The formats will be the same which have been using since 2018. Six teams will participate and will be divided into a groups of two. India, Pakistan and a qualifier will be in one group while Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will be in another. The top two teams from each group will progress to “Super 4s” where they all play once. From there, the top two teams will play the final.
India and Pakistan have always played in the same group with the qualifier to ensure that both the arch-rivals qualify for the next round to have another India and Pakistan match. At least two Indo-PAK games are always expected in this format. This is widely accepted because the two teams have not played a bilateral series since early 2013.
In total, there will be 26 matches to be played in the said period.
“‘Men’s Asia Cup Tournament’ means the biennial senior men’s cricket tournament organised and administered by the ACC involving designated Members, and shall include participation by the teams from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and one Non-Test playing Member of ACC selected through qualifying events,”
the ACC stated in its IEOI statement.
The Last time India hosted an Asia Cup
India hosted the fourth Asia Cup tournament which was held between 25 December 1990 to 4 January 1991. Three teams played in that event: India, Sri Lanka and Asian leading associate member Bangladesh. Pakistan did not participate in the tournament and had pulled out of the tournament due to strained political relations with India.
The three teams played each other once. The top two, India and Sri Lanka played the final where India defeated the Lankan Lions by seven wickets to be crowned the Asian champions for the third time.
Will Pakistan travel to India?
The big question mark; will Pakistan travel to India and participate in the tournament? They did not do it in 1990 but times have changed with Pakistan having travelled to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
However, recent controversies involving Pakistan in hosting the Champions Trophy and the Indian government not willing to send their team to their neighbouring country may result in Pakistan pulling out of the event.
India’s decision not to tour Pakistan is influenced by a combination of security concerns and political tensions. Should the Champions Trophy 2025 get disturbed due to this, Pakistan may well be looking to cancel their travels.
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