India has withdrawn its name from the Asia Cup 2025, in which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clearly told the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that it will neither participate in the men’s Asia Cup nor in the women’s Emerging Team Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka next month.
But the reason behind this is the increasing tension between India and Pakistan and why the command of the ACC is being told to be in the hands of Pakistan’s Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi? Let’s know.
Why did the BCCI take such a big decision?
In fact, the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed, and India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to this further increased the tension between the two countries.
The BCCI says that when there is so much commotion in the country, they cannot participate in any tournament which is being controlled by a big leader of Pakistan.
A senior BCCI official said, “Our team cannot play in a tournament run by the ACC whose boss is a Pakistani minister. This is a question of the country’s sentiments. We have told the ACC that we are out, and will think about playing in their events in future as well.”
What will happen to the Asia Cup now?
The Asia Cup 2025 was to be played in September in T20 format so that the teams could prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. India, which became the champion in 2023 by defeating Sri Lanka, was the biggest attraction of the tournament this time too. But now with India out, the condition of the tournament has become weak.
India is the biggest market for cricket. Most of the sponsors are from India, and the TV ratings of the India-Pakistan match are sky high. If India does not play, not only will the tournament lose its shine, but its money-making part may also sink.
Sony Pictures Network India had bought the rights of Asia Cup till 2032 for $170 million. Now if the tournament is cancelled, then their deal may also be in danger.
Future of India-Pakistan cricket?
India and Pakistan cricket matches are the most watched in the world. But now due to increasing tension between the two countries, these high-voltage matches can be seen only in ICC’s global tournaments.
That too if both the teams agree to play against each other.
BCCI’s master plan?
Sources say that this decision of BCCI is not just emotional, but is also a part of the strategy to isolate Pakistan cricket.
It will be difficult for the ACC to organize the Asia Cup without India, and this may weaken Pakistan’s hold in the cricket world.
Now what?
Asia Cup 2025 was earlier scheduled to be held in India, but later there was talk of shifting it to a neutral venue like UAE. But now with India out, the future of the tournament is uncertain.
