India is set to host the Asia Cup tournament in 2025 in T20 format, as per the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) release of an Invitation for Expressions of Interest (IEOI) document on Saturday.
This document invites interested parties to submit their IEOI for ACC Sponsorship Rights for the period from 2024 to 2027. The 2023 men’s Asia Cup was hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka and was played in the 50-overs format.
This will be only the second time that India will host the Asia Cup 2025. The last time India hosted the Asia Cup tournament was in 1990-91 when they became champions defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
While the dates have yet to be decided, reports have hinted that it could take place in September, after the country's monsoon season has ended.
According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP) 2023-27, India has a full calendar next year, with a limited overs series against England in January-February, followed by the Champions Trophy in February-March.
Following the IPL, the team will tour England from June to August before traveling to Bangladesh for three ODIs and as many T20Is.
So, the Asia Cup is scheduled to take place after the Bangladesh series and before the two-match Test series against the West Indies in October.
"The details, including but not limited to the schedules, dates, years, formats, and/or venues, regarding the ACC Tournaments given below are tentative and may be subject to change at any time at the absolute discretion of ACC and without any liability to ACC," the document mentions.
The ACC release also stated that the 2027 edition of the Asia Cup will be hosted by Bangladesh and will be played in ODI format.
Both tournaments will include six teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and a sixth team determined through a qualifying event and comprise 13 matches per edition.
The next edition of the Women’s Asia Cup (15 matches) will also be played in the T20 format and is scheduled for 2026.
There will be four editions of the Under-19 men's Asia Cup in this period, with each edition staging 15 matches.
(Times of India inputs)
