Advertisement
Advertisement
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed reports claiming it requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to place India and Pakistan in separate groups for future multi-nation tournaments.
Speculation had gained traction in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam attack, with several outlets suggesting that the BCCI was pushing to avoid direct group-stage meetings with Pakistan. However, senior BCCI officials have termed the reports as “baseless.”
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla clarified that any decisions involving matches with Pakistan will only be taken after consulting with the government of India.
Sources within the BCCI also confirmed to local media that no formal communication has been sent to the ICC regarding any changes in the group allocation structure.
Despite the strained cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, there are currently no changes planned in how teams are drawn in global tournaments.
Looking ahead, the next ICC event isn’t until the Women’s ODI World Cup in September-October 2025, which India is set to host.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format featuring eight teams — including Pakistan — meaning each team will play every other side, rendering group-based separation irrelevant.
Although India is hosting the tournament, the matches involving Pakistan will take place at a neutral venue. Currently, no decision has been made regarding the locations of Pakistan’s fixtures.
Before the ICC Women’s World Cup, all eyes will be on the men’s Asia Cup, which is expected to be held in September.
While India holds the hosting rights, the tournament is set to be played at a neutral venue due to political tensions with Pakistan. The final call on the host country, with UAE and Sri Lanka in the running, is still awaited.
Originally, the tournament’s draw and venue announcement were expected in May, but no official word has come through yet.
For context, Pakistan had the hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup, but the tournament was staged under a hybrid model with Sri Lanka as co-hosts.
READ: ‘Not interested in playing in India’: Pakistan’s Gull Feroza on World Cup 2025 participation
