New Delhi, Aug 11: The Asia Cup 2025 will take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28, ending weeks of uncertainty after tense political relations between India and Pakistan raised fears of a boycott.
With Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi also serving as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, the BCCI had no authority to cancel or reschedule the tournament — though pulling out altogether remained an option.
After keeping stakeholders guessing, the Indian board eventually confirmed participation.
However, this would not have been the first time India opted out of the continental event. In fact, barring Sri Lanka, no side — not even cricket powerhouses India or Pakistan — has featured in all 17 editions of the Asia Cup.
India’s most notable absence came in 1986. Having lifted the trophy in the inaugural edition in 1984, the defending champions were expected to defend their crown.
Instead, they made the bold decision to skip the tournament entirely, leaving Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to contest the title.
The reason was rooted in security concerns — Sri Lanka was in the midst of a brutal civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which lasted from 1983 to 2009.
Prioritising the safety of its players, the Indian government refused to send the team.
India’s 2025 Asia Cup Fixtures
Placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, India will open their campaign against UAE on September 10, followed by a high-voltage clash against Pakistan on September 14.
Their final group-stage match will be against Oman on September 19. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 4 stage, with fixtures determined by group standings.
This year, unlike 1986, India will be in the thick of the action — but the shadows of past withdrawals remain a reminder that off-field geopolitics can still shape the sport’s biggest contests.
As the countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 begins, the stage is set for another chapter in the tournament’s storied history. India’s decision to participate despite political undercurrents underscores the sport’s enduring power to bridge divides, even if the spectre of past boycotts lingers in memory. (Agencies)
