Putting an end to all speculations, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) finally held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka. However, the council’s president, Mohsin Naqvi, did not make any clear announcement regarding the Asia Cup. He did express hope that all matters would be resolved soon.
Naqvi mentioned that some decisions still need to be made regarding the Asia Cup and that a final decision will be taken after discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Meanwhile, Indian media reports have stated that the schedule for the Asia Cup will be announced soon by the tournament host, BCCI. According to a source quoted by the Times of India, the BCCI will announce the schedule within the next few days.
Indian media further reported that there is a strong possibility that India and Pakistan will be placed in the same group in this year’s Asia Cup. A source from the ACC told Indian news agency PTI that the Asia Cup will be hosted by India in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and India will play all its matches in Dubai. However, discussions about the final schedule are still ongoing.
Citing sources from Times of India, News18, and India Today, it has been reported that India and Pakistan are likely to be in the same group in this year’s Asia Cup. With the tournament featuring eight teams in the T20 format, placing the two arch-rivals in the same group means they will likely face each other at least twice—once in the group stage and again in the Super Six. If both teams reach the final, it would be a third clash, offering broadcasters a greater opportunity for revenue.
Following the increased tensions between the two neighboring countries during April-May, this will mark the first on-field battle between the two sides since then. A BCCI source told Times of India that “the BCCI is maintaining communication with the Indian government to obtain approval for hosting the India-Pakistan match.”
