The BCCI has stood firm in an attempt to isolate Pakistan following the recent conflict on the border. The recent conflict between India and Pakistan on the border regions is likely to have far-reaching consequences on the cricketing ties of the two nations.
Though India and Pakistan themselves were opposed to bilateral cricket, political tensions between the two countries have threatened multi-team tournaments between the two sides as well.
With a Pakistan minister at the helm of the Asian Cricket Council – the entity that oversees cricketing matters in the continent – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to withdraw from the Asia Cup this year, in an attempt to isolate the neighbouring nation even more.
But given the political environment today, the BCCI does not appear to be interested in going ahead with the Asia Cup idea. The move would be detrimental to the finances of the Asian organization, headed by Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman.
Naqvi took over after Jay Shah, ex-secretary of the BCCI, relinquished the position after being appointed the chairman of the International Cricket Council. The Indian team cannot play in a tournament organized by the ACC, whose chairman is a Pakistani minister.
That’s the mood of the country. We have informally spoken to ACC regarding our pulling out of the next Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our participation in their tournaments in the future as well is put on hold. We are regularly speaking with the Indian government,” Indian Express had quoted a BCCI source stating.
Since the majority of the sponsors for the Asia Cup are from India, the prevailing anti-Pakistan mood within the country makes it very difficult for the BCCI to proceed with the plans for the tournament.
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) acquired the Asia Cup’s media rights in 2024 for a price of 170 million US dollars. The transaction, however, would have to be revised if the Asia Cup does not take place this year.
The 2023 Asia Cup had a hybrid model adopted with part of the competition being hosted in Sri Lanka. India then went on to win the title in Colombo while Pakistan did not even qualify for the final.
