No shade over India vs Pakistan clash? Asia Cup 2025 contest unlikely to face the same fate as WCL
The hype surrounding the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup cannot be described as 'palpable' in the current scenario. The Indian cricket audience, among the most passionate fans of the sport, is not thrilled by the prospect of India playing Pakistan. The India-Pakistan conflict that erupted earlier this year after the Pahalgam terror attack is still fresh in the minds of many Indians. What was once an exciting India vs Pakistan showdown now seems like a thing of the past, as the enthusiasm for the arch-rivalry has shifted to animosity. With such outrage over the possibility of an India vs Pakistan clash, can the Asia Cup 2025 fixture proceed as planned? An official from the Emirates Cricket Board has affirmed that it will.
Asia Cup 2025 cannot be compared to WCL, says Emirates Cricket Board official over the India vs Pakistan debacle
The Asia Cup 2025 is set to kick off soon, with the tournament starting on September 9, 2025. Featuring eight teams, the event could see arch-rivals India and Pakistan face off up to three times. Placed in the same group, if both advance through the group stages to the Super 4s, the third India vs Pakistan clash could possibly stage the final. India and Pakistan are placed in Group A, with their group stage clash scheduled for September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Ahead of this highly anticipated encounter, the Emirates Cricket Board has assured fans that the Asia Cup is a secure event. The official emphasized that it should not be compared to the World Championship of Legends 2025, which faced significant disruptions. Since the tournament schedule was released, the BCCI has come under intense scrutiny, facing calls to boycott matches against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and the ensuing Operation Sindoor.
The controversy intensified recently when several former Indian cricketers, including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh, withdrew from the WCL 2025 India vs Pakistan campaign opener. Due to the uproar, the planned India vs Pakistan game was eventually canceled. Furthermore, the India Champions refused to face Pakistan in the semi-final, allowing Pakistan Champions a direct passage to the WCL 2025 final, where they ultimately lost to the South Africa Champions led by AB de Villiers.
“While I cannot give a formal guarantee, there is no risk of Pakistan and India not playing. The Asia Cup cannot be compared to private tournaments like the World Championship of Legends, where India refused to play against Pakistan in both the league stage and semi-final,” the ECB COO Subhan Ahmed said recently.
Meanwhile, the Asia Cup 2025 will run from September 9 to 28, hosted across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. India’s first game is set for September 10 against the UAE, while the tournament final will take place at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28. Group A features India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, whereas Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. This edition of the Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, serving as a prelude to the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
