BCCI Pulls India Out of 2025 Asia Cup: High‑Stakes Standoff with Pakistan‑Led ACC
In a dramatic move that could reshape Asian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that Team India will not participate in any ACC events while Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi remains ACC president. Announced on May 19, 2025, the decision immediately rules India out of next month’s Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and puts the Men’s Asia Cup—slated for September—“on hold.”
Why the Sudden Withdrawal?
Senior BCCI officials frame the withdrawal as “part of a wider strategy to isolate Pakistan cricket.” A board insider told The Indian Express that “the Indian team can’t play in a tournament run by a Pakistan minister; that’s the national sentiment.” The ACC, founded in 1983 to develop cricket across Asia, now finds itself at the center of a geopolitical tussle.
Financial & Sporting Fallout
The Men’s Asia Cup is a marquee event for broadcasters because of the lucrative India‑Pakistan clash. Sony Pictures Networks India recently secured eight‑year ACC media rights for US $170 million, a package that could be renegotiated if the 2025 edition collapses. Each full ACC member currently earns 15 % of broadcast revenue; those funds now hang in the balance.
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Women’s Pathway Hit: India’s emerging players lose a key platform just weeks before the Under‑23 World Cup selection.
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Sponsors in Limbo: Title and associate sponsors may seek compensation or pull out entirely.
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Schedule Disruption: India must find alternative fixtures ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
A Pattern of Hybrid Tournaments
This standoff echoes recent events:
• Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan hosted, but India forced a hybrid model—its matches were played in Sri Lanka, and India won the title.
• Champions Trophy 2024: Again hosted by Pakistan, again a hybrid model; India played its games in Dubai and lifted the trophy.
What Happens Next?
Unless the ACC appoints a new, neutral president, a last‑minute compromise appears unlikely. For now, the ball lies in the ACC’s court: replace Mohsin Naqvi or risk a flagship tournament without its biggest draw. Whatever the outcome, the decision will reverberate far beyond the sub‑continent, setting a precedent for how cricket confronts political flashpoints in the years ahead.
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BCCI’s Bold Stand: India Pulls Out of 2025 Asia Cup Over Pakistan‑Led ACC
BCCI Pulls India Out of 2025 Asia Cup: High‑Stakes Standoff with Pakistan‑Led ACC
In a dramatic move that could reshape Asian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that Team India will not participate in any ACC events while Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi remains ACC president. Announced on May 19, 2025, the decision immediately rules India out of next month’s Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and puts the Men’s Asia Cup—slated for September—“on hold.”
Why the Sudden Withdrawal?
Senior BCCI officials frame the withdrawal as “part of a wider strategy to isolate Pakistan cricket.” A board insider told The Indian Express that “the Indian team can’t play in a tournament run by a Pakistan minister; that’s the national sentiment.” The ACC, founded in 1983 to develop cricket across Asia, now finds itself at the center of a geopolitical tussle.
Financial & Sporting Fallout
The Men’s Asia Cup is a marquee event for broadcasters because of the lucrative India‑Pakistan clash. Sony Pictures Networks India recently secured eight‑year ACC media rights for US $170 million, a package that could be renegotiated if the 2025 edition collapses. Each full ACC member currently earns 15 % of broadcast revenue; those funds now hang in the balance.
A Pattern of Hybrid Tournaments
This standoff echoes recent events:
• Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan hosted, but India forced a hybrid model—its matches were played in Sri Lanka, and India won the title.
• Champions Trophy 2024: Again hosted by Pakistan, again a hybrid model; India played its games in Dubai and lifted the trophy.
What Happens Next?
Unless the ACC appoints a new, neutral president, a last‑minute compromise appears unlikely. For now, the ball lies in the ACC’s court: replace Mohsin Naqvi or risk a flagship tournament without its biggest draw. Whatever the outcome, the decision will reverberate far beyond the sub‑continent, setting a precedent for how cricket confronts political flashpoints in the years ahead.