The geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan are a hotshot that literally flew the entire tournament of 2025 Asia Cup to the United Arab Emirates. However, there was a time when India denied travel to Sri Lanka, giving an easy ticket to Bangladesh. The year was 1986, when the Indira Gandhi-led Indian Government decided, they will not send the team to Sri Lanka, citing security. India, then, were the defending champions of the Asia-based tournament. They had won the inaugural edition in 1984, under the leadership of Sunil Gavaskar. Around 1986, Sri Lanka was undergoing massive unrest. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was launching guerrilla attacks on innocent Sinhalese, resulting in riots between two ethnicities. However, the Anuradhapura attack in May 1985 worsened everything when a group of 50 LTTE militants opened fire on civilians in bus stands, shops, and streets. They even entered the Sri Maha Bodhi temple and gunned down monks, women, and children. It took away 146 lives. Read also: Zimbabwe, Namibia Qualify for Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier Bangladesh debuts in One Day International India, who was already battling Tamil immigrants in the southern part of the country, could not risk sending India to the Island. However, that opened a route for Bangladesh. Previously, there were no T20s and the Asia Cup was strictly a 50-over format. And getting into the Asia Cup, Bangladesh played their first-ever One Day International match. Bangladesh played their first ODI match against Pakistan but lost the game by seven wickets. They suffered another seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka. Despite the chaos, Sri Lanka won the tournament, defeating Pakistan in the final. Notably, Bangladesh have never won the Asia Cup. Meanwhile, India has already reached the UAE for the preparatory camp before the 2025 Asia Cup. The tournament will start on September 9, with India playing the first match on September 10. The final of the tournament will be hosted in Dubai on September 28.