Pakistan minister heading Asian cricket body, BCCI set to pull out from Asia Cup

Following the recent escalation in India-Pakistan hostilities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to stay away from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events for now.

The BCCI has informed the ACC about its decision to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and from the biennial Men’s Asia Cup in September, The Indian Express has learnt.

The ACC is currently headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.

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Sources said the decision is part of a move to isolate Pakistan cricket. “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. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” said a BCCI source.

The BCCI’s position puts a question mark on the Men’s Asia Cup that India was to host in September. The tournament, featuring India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, is likely to be put on the back burner for now.

Sources said the BCCI is aware that an Asia Cup without India is not a feasible option as most of the sponsors of international cricket events are from India. Moreover, an Asia Cup without the money-spinning India-Pakistan contest would not interest the broadcasters.

In 2024, Asia Cup rights were bagged by Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) for the next eight years for US$ 170 million dollars. In case this edition of the tournament doesn’t take place, the deal would have to be re-worked.

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The five full members of the ACC — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan — get 15 per cent each from the broadcasting revenue, while the rest is distributed among associates and affiliates.

The last edition of the Asia Cup in 2023, too, was impacted by the India-Pakistan situation. With Pakistan hosting the tournament, India refused to cross the border. The BCCI ensured that India played their matches in Sri Lanka. For the PCB, the event proved to be a damp squib as Pakistan failed to make it to the final and India won the title contest against Sri Lanka at Colombo.

This pattern was replayed at the 2024 ICC Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan. India pushed for a hybrid model once again, and played their games in Dubai. With India making it to the final — and winning the Cup — Pakistan missed its chance to host the title contest.

While the International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global body, the ACC was formed in 1983 to develop cricket in the sub-continent and form a powerful Asian block in world cricket. Earlier, Jay Shah was ACC president before being elected as ICC chairman last year.

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