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Conflicting reports emerged on Monday regarding India’s participation in upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, including the prestigious Asia Cup 2025, after several media outlets claimed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to withdraw its teams in protest against the ACC’s current leadership by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Reports of India opting out of Asia Cup and other ACC events
The speculation began after reports cited unnamed BCCI sources stating that India has communicated its decision to the ACC to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the Men’s Asia Cup scheduled for September 2025. The purported move was described as a response to recent escalations in Indo-Pak tensions and the ACC’s current leadership by a Pakistani minister. Some sources claimed this was part of a broader strategy to isolate Pakistan cricket on the international stage.
According to these reports, the BCCI’s stance was that “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.”
The reports further suggested that India’s withdrawal could jeopardize the Asia Cup itself, given the country’s significant contribution to the tournament’s sponsorship and broadcast revenues.
BCCI Secretary responds to the rumours
Amid the swirling rumours, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia issued a clear statement to the media, firmly rejecting the claims of withdrawal. “Since this morning, it has come to our notice about some news reports that the BCCI has decided not to participate in the Asia Cup and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both of which are ACC (Asian Cricket Council) events. Such news are devoid of any truth as till now. BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the ensuing ACC events, let alone writing anything to the ACC,” Saikia said as quoted by TOI.
He emphasized that the board’s current focus remains on the ongoing IPL and the upcoming series against England for both the men’s and women’s teams. “The Asia Cup matter or any other ACC event issue has not come up for discussion at any level, hence any news or report on that is purely speculative and imaginary. It may be said that BCCI, as and when any discussion on any ACC events takes place and any important decision is reached, same will be announced through media,” Saikia added.
While the BCCI’s official stance is that no decision has been made regarding withdrawal from ACC events, the situation remains fluid given the ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Historically, India and Pakistan have only faced each other in multi-team tournaments, with bilateral series suspended for nearly two decades due to diplomatic tensions.
