The fate of the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled for September in India, has been thrown into doubt as political tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following a recent flare-up along the border.

The four-day military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, which ended with a fragile ceasefire last month, has further strained an already fragile relationship—casting a shadow over the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) flagship tournament.

India is slated to host this year’s edition of the Asia Cup, a T20 format tournament. However, with diplomatic ties at a low point, both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remain non-committal about the event’s status.

“We’ve had no internal discussions on the Asia Cup yet,” a senior BCCI official told Reuters, noting that the board’s immediate focus is on wrapping up the Indian Premier League and preparing for India’s tour of England. “Those are our current priorities,” he added, sidestepping questions about the event’s future.

Similarly, the PCB has not confirmed whether the Pakistani team will travel to India for the tournament. “We will address the situation if and when it arises,” a spokesperson said, offering no clarity on participation.

Mohsin Naqvi, the current ACC president and also the PCB chairman, has yet to make a public statement on the matter.

Recent Disruptions and History of Cricket Tensions

Further complicating the regional cricket calendar, the ACC recently postponed the women’s Emerging Asia Cup, originally scheduled to begin this week in Sri Lanka. The decision was made in light of adverse weather conditions and a chikungunya outbreak in the host nation.

Meanwhile, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, also set to take place later this year in India, will see Pakistan play its fixtures in Sri Lanka due to ongoing travel restrictions and security concerns.

This isn’t a new scenario. Earlier this year, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. All their matches, including the March 9 final, were relocated to Dubai.

Bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan have remained frozen since 2013, with the two sides only facing off in multinational tournaments. Political and security tensions have consistently derailed any prospects of direct series.

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir recently expressed personal opposition to playing against Pakistan—even at neutral venues—but added he would support whatever decision the BCCI makes.

Outlook

As it stands, the Asia Cup remains in limbo. Without a diplomatic breakthrough or formal announcements from the ACC, BCCI, or PCB, the tournament’s future remains clouded by political sensitivities and logistical hurdles.

What was meant to be a celebration of Asian cricket excellence now risks becoming another casualty of geopolitical discord—one that fans across the continent are watching with bated breath.