Despite escalating tensions following the Pahalgam attack, a potential India vs. Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025 may still be on the horizon. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is scheduled to convene a meeting in the first week of July to finalize the tournament's schedule, with hopes of commencing the event around September 10.

The possibility of the two nations facing each other in the Asia Cup comes after a period of uncertainty, sparked by a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. This incident heightened existing tensions, leading to calls for India to boycott Pakistani artists and actors, and even to potentially avoid playing Pakistan in ACC and ICC events. Operation Sindoor, launched by India against terror camps, further intensified the situation.

However, recent developments suggest a potential easing of tensions in the cricketing world. The ICC recently released schedules for the Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women's T20 World Cup in England, with India and Pakistan set to compete against each other in both tournaments. These matches are significant revenue generators for global cricket, highlighting the importance of maintaining these rivalries.

The Asia Cup 2025 is planned as a six-team tournament in the T20 format, featuring India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE. While India is the designated host, the tournament is likely to be held in the UAE due to the ongoing diplomatic issues between India and Pakistan. This aligns with previous agreements between the BCCI and PCB to hold events in neutral venues or through a hybrid hosting model. A hybrid model was used in 2023, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka splitting hosting duties.

The ACC, currently headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, is optimistic about the tournament proceeding as scheduled. Promotional activities have already commenced. There were reports that the PCB was in talks with Afghanistan to potentially host a tri-series in August with UAE, but this was in the event that the Asia Cup was cancelled or postponed.

Despite the renewed optimism, some individuals remain critical of sporting ties with Pakistan. Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, has voiced his belief that interactions, including cricket, should cease until cross-border terrorism ends.

The final decision regarding the Asia Cup 2025 and the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match rests with the ACC, with an announcement expected in early July.