India Set to Host Men’s Asia Cup in 2025

India is set to host the Men’s Asia Cup in 2025, marking a significant return as host after a long gap of 34 years. The announcement came from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as they revealed the upcoming host countries for the Asia Cup from 2024 to 2031. This edition of the tournament will be in the T20 format and is expected to serve as a runup to the 2026 T20 World Cup, which is also scheduled to take place in India.

 

Asia Cup Returns to India After 34 Years

The last time India hosted the Asia Cup was in 1990, and its return in 2025 is highly anticipated. Cricket fans in India and across Asia are excited about this development, as the Asia Cup is one of the premier cricket events in the continent. The 2025 edition will see India, along with five other Asian cricket nations, battling for the prestigious trophy in a T20 format. The six teams will include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). UAE qualified by winning the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup, adding an extra element of competition to the mix.

 

Tournament Format

The tournament will follow a familiar structure with two groups of three teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, where they will compete in a round-robin format. The top two teams from the Super Four will then face off in the final to determine the Asia Cup champion. This format ensures that fans will get to see intense matches between the best teams in Asia, including the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash, which always generates tremendous excitement.

 

Future Hosts for Asia Cup Revealed

While India is set to host the 2025 edition, the ACC has also confirmed the hosts for future editions. Bangladesh will host the tournament in 2027, with the format switching to One Day Internationals (ODI). Pakistan is lined up to host the 2029 edition in the T20 format, while Sri Lanka will welcome Asia’s top teams for the 2031 edition in the ODI format. These tournaments will feature about 13 matches per edition, with India vs. Pakistan expected to be the key clash in each one.

 

ACC Media Rights and Auction

In a significant financial move, the ACC has set a base price of $170 million for the media rights for the upcoming editions of the Asia Cup. This amount will cover global television, digital, and audio rights for all ACC tournaments from 2024 to 2031, including men’s and women’s senior, Under-19, and Emerging team competitions. The auction for these media rights will take place on November 1, following the submission of technical bids on October 30 in Dubai.

 

India’s hosting of the Asia Cup in 2025 promises to be a landmark event for cricket fans across the region. With the tournament serving as a precursor to the 2026 T20 World Cup, it will bring together the best teams in Asia for a thrilling competition. The return of the Asia Cup to India after 34 years, coupled with future editions in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, signals an exciting future for cricket in the region.