Pakistan-India row: Is BCCI opting out of Asia Cup?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday dismissed media reports suggesting that India had decided to withdraw from the upcoming Asia Cup and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both of which are flagship tournaments under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI that the reports were "devoid of any truth", stating that no such decision had been made.

He clarified that the BCCI had neither discussed nor initiated any steps regarding withdrawal from the forthcoming ACC events, according to Indian media.

The Asia Cup 2025 is slated for September in India, while the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in June in Sri Lanka.

However, the BCCI has reportedly informed the ACC verbally about its withdrawal from the women's tournament, and has placed other upcoming ACC events on hold, according to Indian media.

Sources say that the BCCI has not formally communicated its withdrawal to the ACC, but internal deliberations and coordination with the Indian government are ongoing.

An unnamed BCCI official was quoted as saying, “The Indian team cannot participate in a tournament headed by a Pakistani minister,” referring to Mohsin Naqvi, who currently serves as both Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and President of the Asian Cricket Council.

India is the defending champion of the Asia Cup, having won the previous edition. Reports suggest the BCCI's decision is politically motivated, stemming from rising tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad in recent months.

Earlier this month, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir said he personally believes India should not play any cricket with Pakistan, not even in neutral venues, after a deadly militant attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) last month.

Two-way cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours remains suspended since 2013 and they play each other only in multi-team tournaments, mostly in neutral venues.

"My personal answer to this is absolutely no," Gambhir said on Tuesday, hours before India launched unprovoked airstrikes on Pakistan, when asked for his view on India-Pakistan cricket.

"Till all this doesn't stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan."

Any match between the arch-rivals remains a cricketing blockbuster and is declared soldout within hours after tickets go on sale.

Pakistan's men's team toured India for the 50-overs World Cup in 2023 but their neighbours have not reciprocated.

India refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year and played all their matches in Dubai instead.

Gambhir said he would follow whatever the Indian cricket board (BCCI) or the government decide on bilateral cricket with Pakistan.

"Ultimately, this is (the) government's decision whether we play them or not," Gambhir said.

"This is not up to me, it's not in my jurisdiction. This is for BCCI and, more importantly, the government to decide whether we should play them or not.

"Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it."

Last month India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra withdrew his invitation to Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem to compete in a May 24 event in the southern city of Bengaluru following the Phalgam attack.

— With additional input from Reuters