India and Pakistan are expected to be placed in the same group for the Asia Cup 2025, according to sources. All obstacles have now been removed for the eagerly awaited continental T20 tournament, which had been uncertain following the terror attack in Pahalgam. The Asia Cup was a topic of discussion during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Dhaka on Thursday, which Indian cricket board officials attended virtually.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shown its readiness to host the tournament at a neutral site, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi being identified as potential locations. While an agreement has been reached with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for the use of three venues, it is anticipated that only two will be used for the Asia Cup.

The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the eight-team Asia Cup. Sources informed this publication in May that India would not participate in or host the Asia Cup following the terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and Asian Cricket Council President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi are set to meet in the coming days to finalize the venues and the tournament schedule, sources told India Today.

A tentative timeframe from September 7 to the third or fourth week of the month has been suggested for the tournament, which will serve as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup scheduled for February next year.

Shukla and Naqvi will also connect with sponsors at the earliest opportunity, aiming to provide ample time for commercial planning.

A significant portion of the tournament’s financial support comes from Indian sponsors and broadcasters. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) secured the media rights for Asia Cup events in 2024 for an estimated USD 170 million over eight years.

The Asia Cup has been allocated a 19-day period in September this year, during which at least two matches between India and Pakistan are expected to occur, in addition to the potential for a final showdown between the two teams, which would guarantee substantial advertising revenue for broadcasters.

Last week, the BCCI communicated to the ACC that it would not participate in the meeting if it took place in Dhaka, referencing the ongoing tensions in bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, the ACC was informed that Rajeev Shukla would join the meeting virtually.

It is important to note that a bilateral series between India and Bangladesh, planned for August 2025, has been postponed indefinitely due to the strained relations.