Asia Cup in Danger! India Refuses to Play Under Pakistan-Backed ACC Boss
BCCI pulls out of Asia Cup 2025, refusing to play under ACC chief who is also a Pakistan minister.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to step away from all tournaments organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), including the upcoming Men’s Asia Cup 2025. The move comes amid rising tension between India and Pakistan.
As per The Indian Express, the BCCI has already informed the ACC about its decision. India will not take part in the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month.
The board has also pulled out of the Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled for September, where India was the host nation.
The main reason behind this move is the leadership of the ACC. The current ACC President is Mohsin Naqvi, who is both the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
A BCCI official told the national daily, “The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC whose chief is a Pakistan minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation.”
The official added that the decision was verbally communicated to the ACC. He also mentioned that India’s participation in future ACC events is currently on hold. The BCCI is in regular contact with the Indian government regarding the situation.
This decision has now raised a big question mark over the future of the Asia Cup. Without Team India, the tournament is likely to lose its popularity and value. India vs Pakistan games are the biggest draw for any ACC event, and broadcasters have invested heavily based on that.
In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India signed an 8-year media rights deal worth USD 170 million for the Asia Cup. If the tournament gets cancelled, the entire deal may have to be re-negotiated.
This is not the first time India-Pakistan issues have affected the Asia Cup. Last year in 2023, BCCI refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan. As a result, India’s matches were shifted to Sri Lanka.
A similar model was used during the Champions Trophy, where all Indian games were hosted in Dubai despite Pakistan being the official host.
With political and diplomatic tension continuing, it seems unlikely that India and Pakistan will share the field in ACC events any time soon.
