The 2025 Asia Cup, originally scheduled to take place in India, is on the brink of being shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September this year, according to several sources known with the matter. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is said to make a final decision soon, with all signs suggesting the UAE as the alternative venue.

The move, necessitated mainly by unabating geopolitical rivalries between India and Pakistan, would follow similar precedents in which neutral sites have been selected to facilitate the smooth holding of matches between the two countries. Though India will technically continue to be the host on paper, the tournament stands a very strong chance of being hosted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, all of which have a storied history of international cricket hosting.

According to a three-year deal between the boards of India and Pakistan, games featuring the two great foes are to be hosted at neutral sites. The UAE, which successfully held the T20 World Cup in 2021 and earlier Asia Cups, presents a politically neutral and logistically viable choice for the high-profile tournament.

ALSO SEE: WATCH: Indian team shares light moments during catching practice ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

Tri-Nation Series and Asia Cup Will Give Boost to UAE's Cricket Calendar

To be played in the T20 format, the 2025 Asia Cup will serve as a key build-up tournament for the ICC T20 World Cup in 2026. The tournament will consist of eight teams and a total of 19 matches to be played in two weeks. While Sri Lanka was once tentatively discussed as a potential alternative hosting option, the UAE's more advanced infrastructure, experience, and climate conditions in September also seem to have swung the decision its way.

Along with the congested Emirates cricket calendar, sources have also suggested that a three-nation T20I series between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE is on the cards. The series would replace the initially planned bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, providing all three teams with good game practice before the Asia Cup. A formal announcement by the ACC is imminent, but for the moment, all indications are that once again, a high-profile tournament will find a temporary home in the desert dunes of the UAE.