NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday dismissed reports claiming that it had decided to pull out of the upcoming Asia Cup and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Both tournaments are organised under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is currently chaired by Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said there had been no discussion or decision on withdrawing from any ACC event. Speaking to ANI, he clarified that the board’s current focus remains on the Indian Premier League and the upcoming England series for both men’s and women’s teams.
Earlier in the day, Indian media claimed that due to escalating political tensions with Pakistan, the BCCI had decided to exit all ACC-related events. The reports also suggested that while no formal notice was issued, a verbal communication had been conveyed to the ACC.
These reports alleged that the decision was linked to Pakistan’s leadership in the ACC and cited discomfort over the tournament being led by a Pakistani minister. An unnamed source claimed the Indian team would not participate in any tournament led by Naqvi.
India is the reigning Asia Cup champion, and the reported move was interpreted by some commentators as politically driven. The developments followed a militant attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir last month, which led to renewed hostility between the two neighbours.
Following the incident, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir said there should be no cricketing ties with Pakistan, even at neutral venues. His remarks came shortly before India launched airstrikes on Pakistan.
Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has remained suspended since 2013, with encounters limited to multi-nation tournaments. While Pakistan participated in India during the 2023 World Cup, India opted out of touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, playing their fixtures in Dubai instead.
Tensions extended beyond cricket when Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra rescinded an invitation to Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem for a Bengaluru event, citing the Pahalgam attack.
Despite political strains, matches between the two sides continue to draw immense public interest and sell out quickly. Both boards have yet to issue any updates regarding formal participation in the Asia Cup.
