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Pakistan eye alternatives as the fate of Asia Cup hangs in balance: Reports
The despicable terrorist attack in Kashmir earlier this year has further rotted the already sour relationship between India and Pakistan. Across decades of hostility, the neighbours still maintained cordial sporting relations on the field. However, the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the following standoff between India and Pakistan have not left any space for amending the relationship. Now, the clash has left the fate of the 2025 Asia Cup in limbo. The upcoming edition was scheduled to be hosted by India. However, with a Pakistani internal minister and the PCB chief heading the Asian Cricket Council, India is unlikely to entertain the tournament any further.
PCB approaches Afghanistan and UAE for a tri-series as BCCI's plans to host Asia Cup remain uncertain
Amid growing uncertainty over Asia Cup 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly weighing up backup options. The fate of the ACC event has been hanging in the balance ever since the tragic terror attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of several innocent tourists, followed by heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.
The tournament, scheduled for September, is set to be hosted by India. It had already been decided that Pakistan wouldn’t travel across the border, with the Asian Cricket Council approving a hybrid hosting model earlier this year. This arrangement came after India refused to tour Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, prompting a compromise from both ends. With the BCCI yet to issue any statement regarding the Asia Cup, the PCB has reportedly begun talks with the Afghanistan Cricket Board about potentially staging a tri-nation series in the UAE. This backup plan is expected to move forward only if the Asia Cup is formally scrapped.
“With the Asia Cup now unlikely to be held in India as originally planned in September due to the simmering relations between Pakistan and India, the PCB is working on another tri-series proposal,” a source revealed. “The idea is that if the Asia Cup is moved to the UAE then Pakistan will play a tri-series with Afghanistan and the UAE in Dubai in August replacing the Afghanistan tour to Pakistan,” he explained.
The report also suggests that preliminary discussions between the boards are already underway. Meanwhile, the latest reports have indicated that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as ACC President, is expected to hold a crucial meeting soon to assess the Asia Cup’s future.
“If the Asia Cup is cancelled or postponed, the PCB wants the Afghanistan and UAE teams to play the tri-series in Pakistan in August,” the source disclosed. “The Indian cricket board is yet to confirm its willingness to host the Asia Cup at home. So, it remains to be seen when the ACC council meets and makes a call on the future of the Asia Cup which is to be held in the T20 format,” he further elaborated.