ACC expands cricket calendar after record Asia Cup
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has approved two new tournaments following the strong performance and high viewership of the 2025 Asia Cup. Announced during its November 2025 board meeting in Doha, the ACC confirmed the launch of a star-driven Legends of Asia event and a dedicated associate-member league to strengthen cricket’s reach across the region. This expansion reflects Asia’s growing influence on global cricket and the rising demand for year-round formats that balance entertainment and development.
Asia Cup 2025 sets the stage for broader growth
The Asia Cup 2025, organised by the ACC, generated significant momentum for cricket in Asia. Strong fan engagement, impressive broadcast numbers and robust digital viewing reaffirmed the regional body’s strategy of expanding beyond traditional bilateral and ICC-led fixtures.
Following the tournament’s success, ACC leadership began exploring how to convert this energy into sustainable long-term growth. The board recognised that Asia’s cricket ecosystem needed formats that served both established fans and new markets. This led to the introduction of two complementary tournaments — one celebrating cricket icons and another focused on emerging nations.
The decision underscores the region’s rising commercial value and the ACC’s intent to capture expanding fan segments across South Asia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Building a wider cricket economy across Asia
The ACC’s new tournaments point to a deliberate, multi-layered strategy to reinforce Asia’s cricket ecosystem.
First, the Legends of Asia tournament creates a commercial product rooted in heritage and fan loyalty. Markets such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have deep emotional connections to retired cricket icons. A legends-focused event promises strong nostalgia-driven appeal, premium sponsorship interest and potential cross-border broadcast reach.
Second, the associate-member league addresses the development gap for emerging cricket nations. Countries such as Nepal, UAE, Oman, Hong Kong and Malaysia often lack consistent competitive exposure. A structured league offers them visibility, stable match calendars and opportunities to cultivate domestic fan bases. It also enables these cricket boards to attract investment, improve infrastructure and build stronger pipelines for both men’s and women’s cricket.
Third, the expansion strengthens the ACC’s commercial foundations. More tournaments mean more content for broadcasters, more sponsorship inventory for partners and more engagement windows for fans. This reduces dependency on a few major events and encourages year-round monetisation — a strategy similar to franchise-league models that have proven successful globally.
Together, these strategic moves show that the ACC is transitioning from event organiser to ecosystem architect, shaping the future of Asian cricket by balancing elite competition with inclusive development.
A turning point for cricket governance in Asia
The ACC’s decision marks a shift toward modern sports governance. For decades, much of Asian cricket’s commercial energy revolved around the Asia Cup and global tournaments. Now, the governing body is adopting a diversified model that aligns with global sports-business trends.
This evolution also benefits sponsors seeking fresh formats and cross-market reach. Advertisers increasingly prefer tournaments with distinct narratives — such as heritage-driven events or rising-market competitions — because they appeal to different demographics. By offering two contrasting products, the ACC positions itself to capture a broader share of the cricket-business economy.
Additionally, the associate-member league has meaningful social impact. As cricket spreads into non-traditional markets, it boosts national-sports identity, youth engagement and regional representation. This aligns with Asia’s broader shift toward inclusive sports development, seen in emerging football, basketball and esports investments across the region.
A more dynamic and inclusive cricket calendar
The two ACC tournaments are expected to roll out over the next two seasons, with the Legends of Asia likely debuting first due to its straightforward structure and broad commercial appeal. The associate-member league may develop in phases, starting with a core group of teams and expanding as interest grows.
Over time, the ACC may introduce women’s editions, age-group versions or mixed exhibition formats. These additions would not only increase participation but also align Asian cricket with global equity-driven sports trends.
The expanded calendar also positions Asia as a key influence on cricket’s future. With growing digital platforms, multi-market broadcasting, and a youthful fan base, the region offers the ideal environment to experiment with formats and build long-term commercial models. As more markets develop, cricket could become a pan-Asian sport rather than a predominantly South Asian one.
ACC signals a new era for Asian cricket
By launching the Legends of Asia tournament and an associate-member league, the ACC has taken a decisive step toward modernising and expanding the region’s cricket landscape. The initiative blends nostalgia, entertainment, development and long-term strategy — positioning Asia as the centre of gravity for cricket’s future. As new tournaments unfold, the region’s cricket ecosystem is set to become more diverse, more inclusive and more commercially robust.
