The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced that India will host the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup, marking a significant return of the tournament to Indian soil after 35 years. This announcement was made on October 5, alongside details regarding the venues for the next four editions of the prestigious cricket tournament and the upcoming media rights auction.

Upcoming Asia Cup editions

The 2025 Asia Cup will be played in a T20I format, continuing the trend of alternating between T20 and ODI formats. Following India’s hosting in 2025, the tournament will see Bangladesh as the host for the ODI version in 2027. Pakistan is set to welcome teams for a T20 Asia Cup in 2029, while Sri Lanka will organize an ODI tournament in 2031.

Media rights auction

In addition to announcing the hosts, the ACC has invited bids for media rights covering a cycle from 2024 to 2031. The base price for these rights is set at USD 170 million, which includes global television, digital, and audio rights for six major tournaments organized by the ACC. The auction is scheduled for November 1, with bidders required to submit their offers in Dubai by late October.

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Context and significance of ACC’s announcement

This announcement comes on the heels of a successful Asia Cup held in 2023, where Pakistan co-hosted the event with Sri Lanka under a hybrid model due to security concerns raised by India. The last time India hosted an Asia Cup was in the late 1990s, making this upcoming event particularly significant for fans and players alike.

As cricket continues to grow in popularity across Asia, these developments signal a promising future for the sport in the region, with high expectations for competitive matches and increased viewership.

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