BCCI likely to pull out of 2025 Asia Cup after heightened Indo-Pak tension

Due to the growing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan as a result of recent geopolitical events, such as the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s military response through Operation Sindoor, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning to withdraw from the 2025 Asia Cup.

Political unrest has once again damaged cricket, which has frequently been viewed as a link between India and Pakistan. As reported by The Indian Express, the BCCI has put its participation in the Men’s Asia Cup on hold and notified the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of its intention to withdraw from the next Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup.

The ACC is now led by Mohsin Naqvi, the interior minister of Pakistan and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Security concerns and national sentiment have been highlighted by BCCI sources as the primary justifications for withdrawing from the competition.

“The Indian team is not permitted to participate in a tournament run by the ACC, which is led by a minister from Pakistan. That is the country’s sentiment. Our participation in the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup has been cancelled, and we have informed ACC verbally that we will no longer be attending their tournaments going forward. We stay in close communication with the Indian government,” a BCCI insider stated.

Asia Cup 2025 likely to be played in UAE

Meanwhile, the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup was initially slated to be hosted by India in a T20 format as a preparatory platform for the succeeding ICC T20 World Cup. However, it was later shifted to a neutral venue, likely the UAE, to maintain peace between the two countries. It is expected to follow a similar hybrid model used in the 2023 Asia Cup when India refused to travel to Pakistan and played all their matches in Sri Lanka instead.

India’s withdrawal will create significant challenges for the ACC as an Asia Cup without India not only weakens the competition but also affects its commercial part. The Men in Blue are the biggest market for cricket viewership, and broadcasters such as Sony Pictures Networks India had secured rights for the Asia Cup through 2032 for a whopping USD 170 million. Moreover, India’s absence may encourage other nations to reconsider their participation, further isolating Pakistan cricket at a regional level.