2025 Asia Cup likely to be called off as India and Pakistan escalate matters

The tensions between neighbors, India and Pakistan, have escalated to a level where it's brewing into a war. As it stands now, neither side is looking to de-escalate as cross-border attacks have risen to a level never witnessed in decades. On the sporting front, such a significant tussle has hit both the IPL 2025 and the PSL. While Pakistan has taken the remaining PSL matches to the UAE, the BCCI has suspended IPL 2025 for one week. The council's decision comes in light of halting all proceedings as the Indian armed forces fight to protect the nation's security. The revised schedule, meanwhile, is yet to be announced by the council. As the tensions escalate, there's no clear view on whether a one-week window would be enough to suffice. Meanwhile, with the neighbors at loggerheads, the 2025 Asia Cup could be scrapped.

IPL 2025 suspended for one week as the governing council mulls the next available window for rescheduling

Concerns about the continuation of the tournament had intensified after the abrupt suspension of the PBKS vs DC match on May 8 in Dharamsala, triggered by air raid alerts in nearby regions including Jammu and Pathankot. The decision to pause the league was ultimately made with the safety of players, staff, and spectators as the foremost priority.

When the suspension was announced, twelve league stage games along with four playoff encounters, including the final set to be played in Kolkata, were still on the calendar. Though a firm restart date has yet to be shared, the BCCI is believed to be considering later dates in the year to resume the league.

With national security dominating current concerns, a return to play will only be considered once the situation stabilizes. Among the scheduling options being explored is a potential August-September window. However, this may come at the cost of India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh and the Asia Cup, both of which are now facing uncertainty due to geopolitical instability. Given that India is set for a five-match Test series in England in June and July, a resumption before August seems unlikely.

A similar interruption occurred in 2021, when the IPL was stopped mid-season due to a COVID-19 outbreak, with the tournament later completed in the UAE. The BCCI could again look to relocate the remainder of IPL 2025 to international venues like the UAE or South Africa, both of which have hosted the tournament successfully in the past and offer secure, neutral grounds. However, this would require alignment with other boards and player availability amid an already packed international schedule.

Cricket Australia has stated that it is closely observing the situation in the region, while earlier today, the PCB moved PSL to the UAE in response to Indian military actions. Meanwhile, the New Zealand players’ association has also raised concerns over the deteriorating security environment.

2025 Asia Cup threatened to be scrapped off as India Pakistan conflict escalates

For now, IPL 2025 remains in uncertainty, with eyes on the BCCI’s next move. Whether the Asia Cup, initially set to be hosted by India at a neutral location, will proceed as planned is increasingly doubtful. The deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians, triggered a chain of escalations that has now threatened major cricketing events in the region. Given the current climate, the already limited sporting engagement between India and Pakistan is unlikely to resume anytime soon.

The Asia Cup was originally slotted into a 19-day window in September, with at least two highly anticipated India-Pakistan clashes scheduled, along with the possibility of a final showdown. These matches were projected to generate significant advertising revenue for broadcasters. Ironically, the Asian Cricket Council is currently chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief, Mohsin Naqvi, who now faces the challenge of addressing the financial fallout should the Asia Cup be canceled.

Sources close to the BCCI reveal that the decision to pause IPL 2025 was carefully considered. With only a few matches left in the season, officials are confident that the tournament can still be completed in a short, 10-day span, potentially through double-header fixtures once the environment is deemed safe.