Mon May 19 13:30:00 UTC 2025: **India Pulls Out of Asian Cricket Council Events Amidst Rising Tensions with Pakistan**

**New Delhi:** The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its withdrawal from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, including the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the Men’s Asia Cup scheduled for September. The decision comes amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Sources within the BCCI cite the current ACC leadership, headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, as a key factor in the decision. A BCCI source stated, “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.”

The withdrawal casts a significant shadow over the Men’s Asia Cup, which India was slated to host. The tournament, featuring cricketing powerhouses India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, is now in jeopardy.

Industry analysts suggest that an Asia Cup without India is financially unviable. The absence of the Indian team and the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match would significantly impact broadcast revenue, with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) holding the rights for the next eight years in a US$ 170 million deal.

This situation echoes the challenges faced during the 2023 Asia Cup, where India refused to play in Pakistan, leading to a hybrid model with matches played in Sri Lanka. A similar pattern emerged with the 2024 ICC Champions Trophy.

The BCCI’s move underscores the complex intersection of politics and sports in the subcontinent. While the ICC remains the global governing body, the ACC was established to foster cricket development in Asia. The current situation raises serious concerns about the future of regional cricket cooperation.

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