India and Pakistan to face off three additional times in 2025 with Asia Cup scheduled for September; ACC aims to prevent Champions Trophy controversy.

Pakistan will soon have the opportunity to seek redemption for their crushing defeat to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to host the 2025 Asia Cup in September, providing Pakistan with a chance to overcome their previous disappointment. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for 2026, the Asia Cup will also be played in the T20 format, allowing teams to prepare and compete in the shorter format of the game.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, fans worldwide could witness as many as three India-Pakistan matches later this year. The Asia Cup is expected to run between the second and fourth week of September.

The 17th edition of the continental tournament, featuring 19 matches, was initially set to be hosted in India. However, amid the relationship between India and Pakistan, ACC is likely to pick a neutral venue. The report added that while the venue is yet to be decided, the officials are contemplating between Sri Lanka and the UAE. The BCCI however will remain the host.

ACC to avoid Champions Trophy fiasco

A key decision made by the ACC, revealed in a document in possession of Cricbuzz, was that the board is likely to avoid the entire fiasco that the Champions Trophy incurred in the months leading up to the tournament about India and Pakistan.

With BCCI not getting clearance from the Indian government, the Rohit Sharma-led side could not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Hence, after months of back-and-forth discussion, Dubai was picked as the venue for all of India's matches. To avoid a similar controversy right from the start, ACC has been keen on deciding on a neutral venue to stage all 19 games of the Asia Cup.

The tournament will comprise eight teams - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, Hong Kong, India, and Pakistan. Nepal will be a notable absentee, having participated in the 2023 edition of the tournament, as they failed to make the cut this time. The eight teams will be divided into two groups, where the top two teams will progress to the Super Four, before two teams make the final. India are the reigning champions, having beaten Sri Lanka in the final of the 2023 edition.

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