Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a bold move that signals escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to withdraw from all upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments, including the Men’s Asia Cup scheduled for September and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup next month in Sri Lanka.
According to The Indian Express, the BCCI has already informed the ACC about its decision, citing discomfort with the council being headed by Mohsin Naqvi — the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and also 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 BCCI official told the publication, adding that the board has been in continuous consultation with the Indian government over the matter.
The decision casts serious doubt on the future of the Asia Cup, a tournament where India is the designated host this year. The BCCI is reportedly aware that the absence of Team India would significantly diminish the tournament’s relevance and viewership, especially without the high-stakes India-Pakistan clash.
The development also puts Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) in a difficult spot. SPNI had secured a lucrative eight-year media rights deal worth USD 170 million for the Asia Cup in 2024. If the tournament is cancelled or loses major market value, the agreement may need to be renegotiated.
This move by the BCCI could mark a turning point in regional cricket diplomacy and may lead to further isolation of Pakistan cricket from multinational events governed by the ACC.
