India And Pakistan In Same Group For Asia Cup 2025: Report
The clouds of uncertainty over this year's Asia Cup have been lifted with the continental tournament expected to start in the first week of September.
The biennial Asia Cup tournament is expected to be played at the neutral venue due to the geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan with UAE the likely destination. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in India but now will reportedly be played across two venues in the UAE with BCCI keeping the hosting rights.
Following the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the resulting India-Pakistan skirmishes at the border, various media reports claimed that Indian cricket team may withdraw from the Asia Cup. However, BCCI refuted any such development.
Now, according to news agency PTI, during a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dhaka which the BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla attended virtually, the decision to play the competition in UAE was taken. However, a final decision over the scheduling is still pending.
'The BCCI will host the Asia Cup in the UAE. India is likely to play all its matches in Dubai. There are still deliberations on scheduling," an ACC source told PTI.
India And Pakistan In Same Group?
The tournament will be held in T20I format this time around and as per reports, India and Pakistan will be kept in the same group meaning they could clash at least twice – once in the group stage and then Super Six with a possibility of a third match should both qualify for the final.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says an official announcement regarding Asia Cup will be made in the coming days.
'Our vice-president Rajeev Shukla attended the ACC meeting. He will brief the members. I don't believe in speculations so you will get to know officially in a few days time," BCCI secretary Saikia said.
When Was The Last Time India-Pakistan Clashed?
India and Pakistan recently played against each other at the Champions Trophy in Dubai during a group stage match. The tournament was originally toz be hosted in Pakistan but BCCI's refusal to send its team resulted in it being held in Hybrid Model with India playing all their matches in Dubai including the semifinal and the final.
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