India is expected to pull out of the 2025 Asia Cup in a move that underscores the deepening rift between India and Pakistan on and off the field. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of its decision, citing political and security concerns.
The development follows heightened tensions between the two neighbouring countries and growing unease over Pakistan’s growing influence in regional cricket bodies. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who currently chairs both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ACC, is said to be a key reason behind India’s stance.
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A senior BCCI official was quoted as saying that India could not take part in an event led by a council headed by a Pakistani minister. The board has already pulled out of the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and indicated that future participation in ACC events remains uncertain, pending discussions with the Indian government.
While the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup is to be hosted in India, the absence of a high-profile India-Pakistan clash has raised concerns over the tournament’s commercial appeal. Matches between the two sides typically draw massive global audiences and attract premium sponsorship deals.
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India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012 and only face each other in multi-nation events. However, even such encounters now seem increasingly unlikely amid worsening diplomatic relations.
In 2023, the Asia Cup was conducted under a hybrid model, allowing India to avoid playing in Pakistan. India went on to win that tournament. With growing uncertainty, ACC leadership under Mohsin Naqvi now faces mounting pressure to keep regional cricket united.