India and Pakistan may face each other thrice in the upcoming Asia Cup.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on Saturday (July 26) unveiled the schedule for the Asia Cup 2025, confirming the league stage clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 14.
Uncertainty over the India-Pakistan clash had mounted after the India Champions team, led by Yuvraj Singh, withdrew from their scheduled WCL match against Pakistan Champions at Edgbaston last week. As a result, the organisers had to cancel the match.
The decision was made in response to the heightened tensions between two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
However, the BCCI has so far not commented on boycotting Pakistan in the Asia Cup after the announcement of the schedule.
Meanwhile, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has advocated for the India versus Pakistan clash in the continental tournament, saying that terrorism shouldn’t happen but sports must go on.
"I am okay. The sport must go on. At the same time Pahalgam should not happen, but the sport must go on. Terrorism must not happen; it needs to be stopped. India took a strong stance towards terrorism... Sport needs to be played," Ganguly told ANI.
Eight countries will compete in the continental tournament, which will be played in the T20 format. Apart from India and Pakistan, the participating teams include Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman.
A total of 19 matches will be played in the marquee event. India and Pakistan have been drawn in the same group alongside UAE and Oman, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong have been placed in the other group.
As far as the format of the Asia Cup 2025 is concerned, two teams from each group will make it to the Super Four stage. In the Super Fours, each team will face the other three once. Two teams from the Super Four stage will qualify for the final.
India and Pakistan can face each other three times in the Asia Cup. After the group stage fixture on September 14, they can meet once again on September 22 if they qualify together for the Super Four stage.
The broadcasters will be hoping for an India versus Pakistan clash in the final, which has never happened before in the history of the tournament.