Amid rising hostilities between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to sever ties with all events overseen by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). This includes India’s withdrawal from both the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Men’s Asia Cup set for September — even though India is scheduled to host the latter.
As per The Indian Express, the BCCI has conveyed its position to the ACC leadership. The decision is influenced by the fact that Mohsin Naqvi, the current ACC President, also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). A senior BCCI official explained, “It is not acceptable for India to participate in a competition led by someone who is part of the Pakistani government. The public sentiment is clear, and we are aligning with that. We’ve informed the ACC and are regularly coordinating with our government.”
This decision places the fate of the 2025 Asia Cup in jeopardy. Without India, the tournament risks losing both viewership and significance, especially due to the absence of an India-Pakistan face-off — a major attraction. In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India secured broadcasting rights for the Asia Cup in a deal worth $170 million. A cancellation could lead to major renegotiations.
This isn’t the first instance of political friction affecting cricket. In 2023 and early 2024, India declined to play in Pakistan, resulting in neutral venues for Indian matches.
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