The ongoing debates around the Asia Cup 2025 hosting rights and India’s participation have taken a new dramatic turn with the BCCI agreeing to host the T20I tournament at a neutral venue. However, the recent reports coming out to state that India and its arch-rival Pakistan are likely to be placed in the same group for the tournament. Earlier, it was speculated that India would back out of participating in the upcoming Asia Cup due to the Pahalgam terror attack, but all the rumours have been cleared now. The Asia Cup topic was discussed in Thursday’s Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Dhaka, which BCCI joined virtually. Also Read: India to clash with Pakistan on September 7 in Asia Cup 2025 The apex cricket body in India has finally shown its interest in hosting the tournament, but at a neutral venue, probably Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as the two neutral venues. Moreover, these two rival giants are to be placed in the same group. An agreement has been signed with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for the use of three venues, but it is being said that only two of them will be utilised, as reported by India Today. The upcoming Asia Cup will feature 8 teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong. The current schedule and venues for the tournament are yet to be finalised. However, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and Asian Cricket Council President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi are expected to meet in the coming days to finalise the same. Moreover, a tentative window from September 7 to the third or fourth week of the same month has been proposed for the tournament. This tournament will also mark a preparatory campaign for all the teams that are set to be featured in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India in February next year.