The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected reports claiming it planned to withdraw from the upcoming Asia Cup and Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. Both tournaments are organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is currently chaired by Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi.
BCCI Clarifies Its Position
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI that the board has not discussed or decided to pull out of any ACC event. He added that the board is focusing on the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the upcoming England tours for both men’s and women’s teams.
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Media Reports Spark Controversy
Earlier, Indian media outlets claimed the BCCI decided to exit all ACC-related events due to rising political tensions with Pakistan. The reports said no formal notice had been sent, but a verbal message was allegedly given to the ACC.
These claims mentioned discomfort with Pakistan’s leadership of the ACC. An anonymous source said the Indian team would not take part in any tournament led by Mohsin Naqvi.
Political Tensions Impact Cricket
India holds the Asia Cup title, but some saw the rumored withdrawal as politically motivated. The reports came after a militant attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir last month. This attack increased hostility between the two countries.
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India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, said there should be no cricket ties with Pakistan, even at neutral venues. He made this statement shortly before India launched airstrikes on Pakistan.
History of Suspended Bilateral Cricket
Since 2013, India and Pakistan have stopped playing bilateral cricket matches. They only face each other in multi-nation tournaments. Pakistan toured India during the 2023 World Cup, but India refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, choosing to play in Dubai instead.
Tensions Beyond Cricket
The strain also affected other sports. Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra withdrew an invitation to Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem for an event in Bengaluru. He cited the Pahalgam attack as the reason.
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Public Interest Remains High
Despite political strains, cricket matches between India and Pakistan continue to attract huge crowds. Tickets sell out quickly, showing strong fan interest. So far, neither board has issued a formal update on Asia Cup participation.
