Amidst escalating geopolitical tensions, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a decisive step to withdraw from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, effectively isolating Pakistan cricket in the process.
The move, which comes ahead of the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup, has triggered widespread implications for regional cricket politics and broadcast deals.
One of the central reasons behind India’s withdrawal is the current leadership of the ACC. The council is chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, who doubles as both Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
“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,” a top BCCI official told The Indian Express.
The BCCI has reportedly communicated its stance to the ACC, pulling out of the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup (set for next month in Sri Lanka) and the Men’s Asia Cup in September, despite India being the host.
India’s withdrawal casts serious doubt over the Men’s Asia Cup 2025. Without Team India, the tournament’s commercial and viewership value plummets, especially given the massive global audience India-Pakistan clashes typically attract.
In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) signed a $170 million media rights deal for eight years of Asia Cup coverage. If the tournament collapses due to India’s exit, the broadcaster may be forced to renegotiate or withdraw from the contract.
This is not the first time political friction has influenced tournament logistics. In 2023, BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, prompting a hybrid model where India played all its matches in Sri Lanka. A similar approach was used in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, with India’s matches hosted in Dubai, despite Pakistan being the official host.
BCCI is maintaining close contact with the Indian government, and future participation in ACC events remains indefinitely on hold. The move may also trigger a realignment in how India engages with continental cricket bodies and broadcasts its regional presence.
