After the controversial drama series that was the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, details about the next editions have started to float around. After the World Cups and Champions Trophy, the Asia Cup remains one of the biggest cash cows of international boards and the next edition will go ahead as planned in 2027. It will act as a dress rehearsal for the ODI World Cup that is later in the year. That means the Asia Cup 2027 will be played in the 50-over format, with (possibly) the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to represent India on the prestigious Asia Cup stage.
Bangladesh is expected to retain hosting rights for the 50-over tournament, with the event likely to be played between June 18 and July 4, 2027. That means the Asia Cup will be held around three months before the marquee ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
According to reports from the Express Tribune, six teams will compete in the tournament, with India entering as the defending champions after lifting the 2023 ODI Asia Cup title. Of course, they won the last edition, which was played in the T20 format in 2025 as well. The official confirmation from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is still awaited, but the proposed window has largely settled doubts over when the competition would fit into an already packed international calendar.
Asia Cup 2027: All you need to know
- Format: ODI
- Dates: June 18 to July 4, 2027 (proposed)
- Host: Bangladesh
- Teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and one Associate nation
- Total matches: 13
- Significance: Preparatory tournament ahead of the ODI World Cup 2027
Why Bangladesh is set to keep hosting rights
There was talk that Bangladesh might lose the hosting rights due to a strained relationship with India over the past couple of years.
The friction started during IPL 2026 after an incident involving Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, and it got worse when Bangladesh pulled out of travelling to India for the T20 World Cup. Scotland had to step in as their replacement. To add to it, India’s scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh in 2026 was postponed. Although the change in the BCB’s board has meant that it looks to host India this year, you just can’t really predict anything at Asia Cups.
Naturally, questions emerged over whether the ACC would shift the Asia Cup elsewhere, especially given the chaos that surrounded the 2025 edition. That tournament was originally India’s to host, but geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan forced the ACC to move the competition to the UAE. While the BCCI remained the official host, all matches were played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi under a neutral-venue arrangement.
This time, however, it isn’t about Pakistan for India. There’s already a pact between the two boards that they won’t play in each other’s country. A neutral venue is a must and that’s what Bangladesh provides. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s new administration under Tamim Iqbal has reportedly prioritised repairing ties with the BCCI. So, that’s a good news for Bangladesh and Asia Cup.
Leadership changes at the Asian Cricket Council are also playing a part. Mohsin Naqvi’s stint as ACC president is set to end in April 2027. Under the rotation system, the BCB will then get the chance to put forward the next ACC president. That change lowers the chances of Bangladesh losing hosting rights down the line.
Men’s Asia Cup (history and winners list)
| Year | Format | Host(s) | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | ODI | UAE | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1986 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| 1988 | ODI | Bangladesh | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1990/91 | ODI | India | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1995 | ODI | UAE | India | Sri Lanka |
| 1997 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | India |
| 2000 | ODI | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| 2004 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | India |
| 2008 | ODI | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | India |
| 2010 | ODI | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2012 | ODI | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Bangladesh |
| 2014 | ODI | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| 2016 | T20I | Bangladesh | India | Bangladesh |
| 2018 | ODI | UAE | India | Bangladesh |
| 2022 | T20I | UAE | Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
| 2023 | ODI | Pakistan & Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2025 | T20I | UAE | India | Pakistan |
| 2027 | ODI | Bangladesh | TBD | TBD |
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