BCCI to withdraw from Asia Cup over ACC chief being a Pakistani minister

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that it will not allow its team to participate in the Asia Cup, which will be hosted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) under the chairmanship of Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The Indian cricket board had previously pulled its women’s team from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled for June, after informing the ACC.

Meanwhile, the BCCI also withdrew from the Men’s Asia Cup, which was set to take place in September. The tournament was originally to be hosted by India.

Eight teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong, will compete.

A BCCI source told Indian media, "The Indian team cannot play in a tournament organized by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to the ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events is also on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government."

Check: Asia Cup 2025 may be shifted from India

India’s ongoing politicisation of sports has left the Asia Cup in limbo, as BCCI officials believe the tournament will lack significance without a match between India and Pakistan.

In 2023, India refused to play the Asia Cup in Pakistan, which led to Sri Lanka being selected as the tournament’s neutral venue.

The ICC Champions Trophy also faced the risk of disruption due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan. As a result, the two countries agreed to play their matches in Dubai.