India Bound to Play Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

India will not be able to skip the much-anticipated clash with Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, despite mounting pressure from local media and former cricketers. Sources within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have confirmed that India is officially committed to the tournament and the match, following key decisions made during a meeting in Dhaka.

Clash Set for September 14

The ACC recently unveiled the full schedule for the Asia Cup, confirming that arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face each other on September 14 in the United Arab Emirates. The match is set to be the highlight of the tournament and is expected to draw global attention.

India, as the tournament’s official host, has reportedly already given the green light during the ACC meeting held in Dhaka. That decision, according to insiders, makes any talk of a withdrawal or boycott impossible at this stage.

BCCI’s Commitment Now Irreversible

Reports indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held internal consultations before confirming its participation. Once the board formally approved the fixture during the Dhaka meeting, the agreement became binding.

“The BCCI cannot pull out now,” a source familiar with the matter stated. “Everything was finalized during the Dhaka meeting. Since India is the host country, any reversal is off the table. The match will proceed as scheduled.”

Read: Dhawan Responds to India-Pakistan Semi-Final Possibility

Officials within the BCCI have not released any public statements indicating reluctance or reconsideration. On the contrary, all decisions were made at the official level and in coordination with the ACC’s overall planning.

Backlash Within India

Despite the BCCI’s silent confirmation, the decision has sparked a wave of criticism within India. Some media outlets and former cricketers have questioned the move, urging the board and government to boycott the match against Pakistan. They cite ongoing political tensions as justification for avoiding the encounter.

Calls for a boycott aren’t new. Similar sentiments were echoed during the ICC Champions Trophy and other international events where India and Pakistan were scheduled to meet. Yet, cricketing authorities have mostly avoided politicizing fixtures at the tournament level.

A Tournament of High Stakes

The eight-team Asia Cup will begin on September 9 with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in the opening match. This edition follows the T20 format, making it a strategic warm-up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which India and Sri Lanka will co-host.

Pakistan will launch their campaign against Oman on September 12 and conclude the group stage with a match against the UAE on September 17. Depending on match results, Pakistan and India could meet again during the Super Four stage — and possibly in the final. That means fans may witness up to three encounters between the fierce rivals during the tournament.

Asia Cup 2025: Format and Purpose

This year’s Asia Cup is being positioned as more than just a continental competition. With the T20 World Cup just months away, teams are using it to test combinations, develop bench strength, and gain momentum.

India and Pakistan, both cricketing powerhouses, view the tournament as a key step in building toward the global stage. However, the political narrative around their encounters continues to complicate sporting engagements.

Balancing Sport and Diplomacy

The clash between India and Pakistan is always more than just a game. It carries emotional, political, and diplomatic weight. Still, cricket authorities have continued to keep the focus on sport, even in times of heightened political sensitivity.

By confirming participation and ruling out a boycott, India has chosen to honor its commitments under the ACC framework. For fans around the world, especially those in South Asia, this means a high-voltage encounter is guaranteed.

As the countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 begins, both teams will now focus on performance — not politics.