Pratiksha Ghosh
New Delhi , May 19 2025: In a major development that could significantly impact the future of continental cricket events, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in June and the Men’s Asia Cup scheduled for September 2025. The decision reportedly stems from the continued political tensions between India and Pakistan.
India was all set to host the Men’s Asia Cup this year in the T20 format. The tournament lineup included Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Hong Kong, and Oman. However, the BCCI has now formally communicated its decision to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), casting serious doubts over the event's future.
The ACC is currently led by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. India’s pullout is likely to intensify challenges for the ACC, particularly given that India is the defending champion, having won the 2023 edition in Colombo.
Tensions between the two nations have disrupted major cricket tournaments in recent years. The 2023 Men’s Asia Cup, initially planned to be hosted entirely in Pakistan, was conducted in a hybrid format after India declined to play in Pakistan. Consequently, all of India's matches were relocated to Sri Lanka.
A similar arrangement was followed during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. While Pakistan hosted matches on home soil, India’s fixtures were played in Dubai due to security concerns. India went on to win the Champions Trophy in Dubai, while Pakistan exited early in the group stage.
The absence of India, one of the sport’s biggest draws, will also be a setback for the tournament's commercial value. Broadcaster Sony Sports Network had inked a deal in late 2024 to air all ACC events through 2031, and India’s non-participation is expected to significantly impact viewership and revenue.
As uncertainty looms over the Men’s Asia Cup, cricket fans across Asia will now wait to see how the ACC responds to this major setback.
