Islamabad, 23 April 2025: The BCCI has dismissed rumors that it asked the ICC to place India and Pakistan in separate groups for future global tournaments.
The speculation, which surfaced following the recent Pahalgam attacks, has sparked considerable debate but has been firmly refuted by the BCCI.
Rajeev Shukla clarified that any decisions concerning Pakistan’s participation in international tournaments would involve consultations with the Indian government.
He emphasized that no formal communication or request had been made to the ICC regarding this matter, as confirmed by BCCI sources.
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Amid ongoing sensitivities surrounding India-Pakistan relations in cricket, there is no official move to adjust the tournament grouping system at present.
The global cricket calendar is quiet until the Women’s ODI World Cup in India, scheduled for September-October 2025.
Pakistan has already secured its place in the eight-team competition, which will be played in a round-robin format, eliminating the need for group divisions.
Pakistan’s matches are likely to be held at neutral venues, with India as the host, and venue selection is still pending by the BCCI.
In the interim, attention will turn to the men’s Asia Cup, where India holds the hosting rights.
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The tournament, expected to take place in September, will also be played at a neutral location, with the UAE or Sri Lanka as the likely hosts.
The Asia Cup’s format is shaped by a $170 million media rights deal, guaranteeing at least two India-Pakistan fixtures per edition.
The upcoming 2025 edition is expected to generate $38 million, slightly lower than the average of $42.5 million.
In the 2023 edition, India and Pakistan met twice in the same group, with India winning the tournament and Pakistan missing the final due to a washed-out match.
The final details for the 2025 Asia Cup, including the host nation, remain to be confirmed.
