New Delhi: Defending champions India are reportedly set to withdraw from both the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup and the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in September. According to The Indian Express, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) about its decision.
The move is said to be part of India’s attempt to isolate Pakistan cricket, following a recent escalation in cross-border tensions between the two nations. Notably, the ACC is currently chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister and also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The BCCI’s take has now raised questions whether the Men’s Asia Cup will be conducted this year or not, as most of the sponsors of international cricket are from India. And without a high-stakes match, India-Pakistan, the contest would not interest the broadcasters.
The tournament, which usually features India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, might be pushed back or even cancelled. Broadcasters are reportedly concerned about their return on investment in the absence of India, the biggest cricket market in the region.
In 2024, Sony Sports Network acquired the broadcast rights for the Asia Cup for the next eight years. If this year’s edition is cancelled, the agreement could be subject to renegotiation.
History of disrupted hosting due to Indo-Pak relations
This isn’t the first time that political tensions between India and Pakistan have impacted a major cricket tournament. In the previous edition of the Asia Cup, which was hosted by Pakistan, India refused to travel across the border due to security concerns. Instead, India played their matches in Sri Lanka, under a hybrid hosting model. Eventually, India went on to win the final by 10 wickets against Sri Lanka in Colombo, while Pakistan failed to reach the final.
The same scenario was witnessed during the 2024 ICC Champions Trophy, also awarded to Pakistan. India once again opted for a hybrid model, playing their matches in Dubai. India ultimately lifted the trophy, while Pakistan missed the opportunity to host the final.
The upcoming Asia Cup was initially scheduled to be hosted by India in the T20 format, aligning with preparations for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. However, with India set to pull out and tensions unresolved, the tournament’s fate now hangs in the balance.
India likely to withdraw from the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup and Women’s Emerging Asia Cup amid political tensions with Pakistan, raising doubts over the tournament. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
