New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed growing suggestions to limit the number of India-Pakistan matches at future ICC tournaments, following the intense controversy surrounding the 2025 Asia Cup.
The recommendation, initially proposed by former England captain Michael Atherton, comes in the wake of heated exchanges between the two teams during the tournament, which was hosted by Pakistan. However, a senior BCCI official has clarified that such decisions are not straightforward and involve multiple stakeholders, including broadcasters and sponsors.
BCCI says commercial interests cannot be ignored
Speaking to Dainik Jagran, the BCCI official said, “It’s easy to talk about all this, but will sponsors and broadcasters agree to it? In today’s situation, if any major team, not just India, withdraws from a tournament, it will be difficult to attract sponsors.”
The official added that while discussions about reducing the frequency of India-Pakistan encounters have surfaced due to recent tensions, financial and contractual obligations tied to ICC events make such a move highly complicated.
The India-Pakistan rivalry remains one of the most commercially lucrative fixtures in world cricket, consistently attracting record-breaking viewership and multi-million-dollar sponsorships.
Tensions flare during Asia Cup 2025
The Asia Cup this year was marked by diplomatic strain and on-field animosity between the two teams. The situation worsened when India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both the Pakistan Interior Minister and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President.
India defeated Pakistan in all three encounters during the tournament, but the victory celebrations were overshadowed by controversy. During the group stage match on September 14, Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. Matters escalated further when Pakistan players were accused of making obscene gestures during the Super Four clash on September 21.
The high-voltage matches were the first encounters between the two teams since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, which heightened the already strained political and sporting relationship.
Trophy handover dispute deepens
The Asia Cup trophy remains uncollected as India continues to decline to receive it from Naqvi. According to Dainik Jagran, the trophy is currently at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. Naqvi, in a social media post, insisted that Suryakumar Yadav must personally travel to Dubai to collect the silverware from him if India wishes to claim it.
The standoff has only intensified tensions, with BCCI officials Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar reportedly engaging in a heated exchange with Naqvi during a recent ACC meeting. Despite multiple requests, Naqvi refused to specify a timeline or alternative arrangement for handing over the trophy to India.
ICC faces pressure amid growing political tensions
Following the controversy, several cricket analysts and former players have urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider scheduling India-Pakistan matches, which often serve as flashpoints amid political discord between the two nations.
Michael Atherton, while speaking to a British sports channel, described the rivalry as a “proxy for broader tensions”, suggesting that the ICC should prioritise player safety and sportsmanship over viewership figures.
However, given the commercial importance of these matches — including major broadcasting rights deals and advertising partnerships — such a decision is unlikely in the immediate future.
India’s stance remains firm
While India’s victory in the tournament stands undisputed, the diplomatic and administrative fallout continues to dominate discussions. The refusal to accept the trophy has been viewed by some as a symbolic protest against Pakistan’s handling of the event and Naqvi’s dual political and cricketing roles.
The BCCI, meanwhile, remains focused on maintaining India’s cricketing schedule and upholding its stance on neutral venues for bilateral engagements with Pakistan.
Conclusion
The 2025 Asia Cup controversy has once again highlighted how cricket between India and Pakistan transcends sport, often becoming entangled with geopolitical sensitivities and nationalist sentiment.
While calls to separate politics from cricket grow louder, the commercial realities of modern sport mean that the India-Pakistan rivalry — arguably cricket’s biggest spectacle — is unlikely to disappear from ICC events anytime soon.