With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 suspended for one week, it is very unlikely at this stage that India will tour Bangladesh (August) and participate in the Asia Cup (September) later this year.
After the suspension due to escalating India-Pakistan tensions, a new timeframe to conduct the remainder of the season is being searched, which could possible be the free dates during Asia Cup 2025, and India tour of Bangladesh 2025, which India national cricket team are unlikely to participate following the current geopolitical scenario in the subcontinent.
According to a report in the Indian daily newspaper Times of India, the August-September 2025 window is the only timeframe to complete the IPL 2025. India will tour England for a grueling five-Test tour between June and August, after which the national team is scheduled to tour Bangladesh from August 17, followed by supposedly Asia Cup 2025 in September.
In case the IPL 2025 does restart after a week or so, the Indian national cricket team are unlikely to play the Asia Cup 2025 and tour Bangladesh unless the tensions between India and Pakistan die
down.
The Asia Cup was given a 19-day window in September where at least two Indo-Pak matches were to take place apart from the possibility of a final clash between the bitter rivals which would have assured the broadcasters of high advertising revenue.
"It is extremely bad optics if cricket continues when there is a possibility of war with a rogue nation (Pakistan). Sports can continue when everything is normal. Plus it is very natural for foreign players and coaches to be wary and wanting to return home," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity after the league was suspended indefinitely on Friday.
Incidentally, the Asian Cricket Council is now headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the onus will be on him to deal with financial losses that the Asia Cup cancellation would cause.
It is understood that the BCCI top brass' decision to suspend the league was well thought out call as only a handful of matches are left which can be completed in a 10-day window with possible double-headers.
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