With Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Mohsin Naqvi assuming the presidency of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the possibility of the Asia Cup 2025 being relocated from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has gained traction, a senior ACC official said on Thursday.
Discussions regarding the tournament’s relocation, initially set to be hosted by India, took place during a meeting on Thursday where Naqvi formally took over the ACC presidency.
There are a few reasons for the potential relocation of the Asia Cup. The main reason is the ongoing deadlock between India and Pakistan. The agreement before the Champions Trophy 2025 was that India would not travel to events hosted by Pakistan, and in return, Pakistan would not tour India for any tournament they host.
"Another reason is that September is the rainy season in India. To ensure smooth proceedings, hosting the tournament in the UAE is in the best interest of the event. The Emirates Board is prepared to accommodate the tournament," the official confirmed.
A long-term broadcast deal for the Asia Cup was signed last year, with Sony India securing the rights for the next three editions for a reported sum of $170 million. At that time, broadcasters also agreed that hosting the event at a neutral venue — rather than in India or Pakistan — would prevent any team from boycotting the tournament.
With Naqvi now at the helm of the ACC, PCB officials believe they will have greater support in securing a neutral venue.
Naqvi officially assumed the ACC presidency following a virtual meeting on Thursday, which reaffirmed the continuation of the rotation policy.
The ACC has been more active in recent years under Jay Shah’s leadership until he became chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in December 2024. Sri Lanka Cricket’s Shami Silva then led the ACC for a brief tenure before Naqvi’s appointment.
Pakistan now holds the presidency of the Asian body following the meeting, and Mohsin Naqvi is the new president. The meeting expressed hope that Naqvi would work towards the betterment of cricket in the region, building on the progress achieved in recent years.
Naqvi also reiterated his commitment to the growth of the sport in Asia.
With Pakistan at the helm, the ACC is poised to strengthen and expand cricket’s presence across Asia, fostering unity and growth within the sport. We aim to enhance revenue generation and the development of the game in the region.
The proposed relocation of the Asia Cup will be the first major challenge Naqvi will need to navigate to ensure a resolution that satisfies all stakeholders.
