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Cricket: Another Ind-Pak clash on the cards as Asia Cup 2025 schedule announced

by Devesh Jaganath

image Cricket: Another Ind-Pak clash on the cards as Asia Cup 2025 schedule announced
After much deliberation, the 2025 Asia Cup is now officially scheduled to get underway on September 9th and it will run until the 28th in the United Arab Emirates. The tournament will feature eight teams, up from six last year, including arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who have been drawn in the same group.

India vs. Pakistan clash headlines Asia Cup 2025

Following the devastating Pahalgam attacks and increased geopolitical tensions that forced the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League to be halted for a week earlier this year, the staging of the 2025 Asia Cup was briefly thrown into uncertainty. 

However, after an agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Asia Cup has now been officially added to the cricketing calendar, set to run from September 9 to 28 this year, with India installed as the favourites according to the best online betting sites.

This marks the tournament’s 17th edition, and given its success over the years, the 2025 campaign will see eight teams featured, up from the original six. These teams will be split into two groups of four, with the top two sides progressing to the knockout rounds. 

Group A is undoubtedly the one that will hog the majority of the attention through the competition as it features arch-rivals India and Pakistan, and they are joined by Oman and the UAE. Group B includes Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

The blockbuster Group A clash between the Men in Blue and the Shaheens has been locked in for September 14, and there are expectations of record-breaking viewing numbers, especially after the India Legends refused to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends semi-final.

Given the format of the tournament, there is a possibility that there could be as many as three India-Pakistan clashes throughout the course of the 2025 Asia Cup, including what would be a mouth-watering final on September 28.

Mixed reactions as full Asia Cup 2025 fixture list revealed 

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The release of the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup fixture list has received mixed responses, with many from a neutral perspective seeing the possibility of India and Pakistan facing off, albeit in a neutral venue, as a positive for the game of cricket. 

Former Blue Shirts’ skipper and president of the BCCI, Sourav Ganguly, is one such individual who has been vocal about keeping political issues and sports separate, while also mentioning that if the Indian government has given permission to the team, they should fulfil the fixture. He said: 

"India-Pakistan cricket has always depended on government permission. If the government allows the game to be happen, it will happen. I have said earlier also that the terrorism should stop. As I said, if the government allows the match should go on."

However, a large faction, particularly in India, has lambasted the BCCI for their decision to allow India to face the Green Shirts, and have called for the Men in Blue to forfeit the game, like the India Champions did in the 2025 WCL earlier this week. 

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