The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to pull out of the upcoming Men’s Asia Cup and the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup in a bid to isolate Pakistan.
The move comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) currently headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
As India will now not participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, this puts the tournament’s status under uncertainty. Without India, who generatives majority of the revenue, also because of the marquee fixture against Pakistan, the Asia Cup will not be financially viable.
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India Set to Opt Out of Asia Cup 2025
As per The Indian Express, The BCCI has verbally communicated its withdrawal from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled for June in Sri Lanka, and has also put its participation in the Men’s Asia Cup, set for September, on hold. This came on the expected lines as there were already rumours that India will not take part in the Asia Cup 2025.
"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," a BCCI source said as quoted to The Indian Express.
The BCCI’s withdrawal is seen as part of a broader strategy to isolate Pakistan in the cricketing world, especially following recent hostilities along the border.
This is not the first instance of India-Pakistan tensions impacting the Asia Cup. In 2023, when Pakistan hosted the tournament, India refused to travel there, leading to a hybrid model where India played all their matches in Sri Lanka.
A similar approach was adopted for the Champions Trophy 2025, with India’s matches held in Dubai despite Pakistan being the host nation. In both cases, India reached the finals, resulting in the title matches being played outside Pakistan.
Will Asia Cup 2025 Take Place Without India?
The BCCI’s withdrawal raises questions about whether the Asia Cup 2025 can proceed without India, a cricketing powerhouse that drives viewership and sponsorship. Without the high-stakes India-Pakistan clash, the tournament risks losing significant revenue and global appeal, potentially forcing the ACC to rethink its format or venue.
Despite the challenge, the ACC might push forward with the event, relying on teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, the absence of India could dampen fan enthusiasm and financial prospects, leaving the tournament’s future uncertain.
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