Asia Cup 2025 to be canceled; Women’s World Cup and T20 World Cup are uncertain due to India-Pakistan war

India is again on the verge of war with its neighbor, Pakistan. India conducted Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir following a dastardly terror attack on Pahalgam that claimed 26 tourists’ lives.

India’s response saw Pakistan retaliate. But the timing in cricket terms couldn’t have been worse. India will stage the Asia Cup in August-September 2025, Women’s ODI World Cup in September-October and T20 World Cup in February-March 2026.

Though India is yet to be at war with Pakistan officially, all three events now stand threatened. Neither BCCI nor the ICC has made a statement regarding whether the events would be affected under the present circumstances.

ICC, under the new BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s leadership, is keeping a very close eye on it, as is the BCCI. Asian Cricket Council is now being controlled by Pakistan Cricket Board chief and cabinet minister Mohsin Naqvi.

“We don’t know yet. The situation is evolving, and we still have 4-5 months left for Asia Cup and the Women’s World Cup. There has been no talk with the ICC about changing the venues or postponing it. We are keeping an eye on the situation and so is ICC. We will make a decision when the time is right,” a BCCI official informed InsideSport.

Asia Cup 2025 Postponed?

In all scenarios, the Asia Cup 2025 will be delayed. With the tournament being held in August-September and the cross-border tension at its highest, there is no chance the tournament will proceed as scheduled.

India is the official host country, but according to the BCCI-PCB agreement, India vs Pakistan cricket matches will be held at neutral grounds. But with Mohsin Naqvi as the head of the ACC, there is no neutrality in the Asia Cup. ACC board members are BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and former treasurer Ashish Shelar. A BCCI official said on condition of anonymity that they “will support whatever stand our government takes.”

Ex-India captain has already rung the alarm bells regarding the Asia Cup, further stating that even the Asian Cricket Council might be dissolved.

“BCCI’s stance has always been what the government of India tells them to do. So I don’t think it would be any different when it comes to the Asia Cup. India and Sri Lanka are the hosts for this particular edition of the Asia Cup. So, it depends on whether things have changed at all. But if things haven’t changed, I can’t see Pakistan now being part of the Asia Cup, which is going to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka,”said Gavaskar to Sports Today.

ICC events also be canceled?

It may be that tensions between India and Pakistan ease rapidly. Although there is no indication of that happening as yet, it may be. Will that put the two big ICC events back on track? Likely.

While Asia Cup might be a battle of wills between BCCI and the PCB for a while, other member countries might not like the prospect of hosting the Women’s ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup in a nation embroiled in an armed conflict.

Jay Shah, the chairman of the ICC, is India’s home minister’s son, Amit Shah. So, there are possibilities that India might still host the tournaments. But for that to be possible, things need to ease out.

There are five months left for the Women’s World Cup and nine months left for the T20 World Cup. By then, everyone will pray that things get back to normal. But if it does not, then other nations will pressure the ICC to move both tournaments out of India. The co-host for the T20 WC is Sri Lanka. And regarding the Women’s WC, the decision will be taken within two months by the ICC.