The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to withdraw from two major Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments following tensions between India and Pakistan. The Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled for next month in Sri Lanka and the Men’s Asia Cup, which India was set to host in September.
The decision now raises questions about the feasibility of the Men’s Asia Cup, a flagship tournament featuring India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The ACC, currently led by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, now faces a significant challenge. The BCCI’s absence from the Men’s Asia Cup could jeopardise the event, as India’s participation is critical to its commercial success. Most sponsors of international cricket events hail from India, and the high-profile India-Pakistan rivalry is a major draw for broadcasters. An Asia Cup without India would likely result in a significant shortfall, impacting all stakeholders.
This is not the first time India-Pakistan tensions have disrupted the Asia Cup. In 2023, when Pakistan hosted the tournament, India refused to travel across the border. The BCCI successfully negotiated for India’s matches, including the final, to be played in Sri Lanka.
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