The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly notified the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of its decision to pull out of the Asia Cup 2025, amid escalating political tensions and worsening cricket relations with Pakistan.
Indian media sources indicate that renewed conflicts along the India-Pakistan border have severely strained any chance of sports collaboration between the two nations. The political situation, combined with the ACC currently being led by Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, has influenced the BCCI to distance itself from tournaments managed by the ACC.
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A senior BCCI official confirmed the withdrawal, stating, “The Indian team cannot participate in a tournament organized by the ACC when its head is a Pakistani minister. This reflects the sentiment of the nation.” The official added that India has already informed the ACC about withdrawing from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup and that future participation in ACC events is uncertain as they remain in close communication with the Indian government.
The Asia Cup 2025 is set to be hosted in India, but without India-Pakistan matches, the tournament’s financial appeal is in doubt. The high-profile rivalry between the two countries usually attracts massive viewership and lucrative sponsorships, and its absence could impact the event’s success.
This move follows India’s recent withdrawal from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka next month. While India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral cricket matches since 2012, they have occasionally met in multi-nation tournaments. However, the current tensions put even these encounters at risk.
In 2023, the Asia Cup adopted a hybrid format with matches hosted in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, allowing India to avoid traveling to Pakistan. India went on to win the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka in the final, while Pakistan did not make it to the final.
India’s latest withdrawal seems part of a broader effort to isolate Pakistan from regional cricket forums. Mohsin Naqvi, who assumed the ACC chairmanship after BCCI secretary Jay Shah resigned following his ICC Chairman appointment, now faces the challenge of steering the ACC through this difficult period.
