BCCI rejects reports of withdrawal from Asia Cup 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has rejected reports claiming it has withdrawn from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments due to ongoing political tensions with Pakistan, according to Indian media.

Earlier, The Indian Express reported that the BCCI had informed the ACC of its intention to pull out of the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in June and the Men’s Asia Cup in September.

The decision was reportedly linked to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who currently heads the ACC as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman. The source cited by the outlet said, “The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC whose chief is a Pakistan minister.”

However, later in the day, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed the reports as baseless. Speaking to ANI, Saikia said, “Such news is devoid of any truth. BCCI has not discussed or taken any such steps regarding the upcoming ACC events.”

He added that the BCCI's current focus remains on the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the upcoming men’s and women’s series against England. “No discussion has taken place regarding ACC events at any level,” Saikia clarified.

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since 2007 due to political tensions. In recent years, both teams have only met in ICC and ACC tournaments held at neutral venues. The last Asia Cup in 2023 followed a hybrid model to accommodate India’s refusal to tour Pakistan.