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The Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devajit Saikia, has refuted reports claiming that the board is set to withdraw from the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
Saikia’s remarks came hours after several Indian media outlets reported that the BCCI had formally communicated to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), expressing its unwillingness to participate in the upcoming events due to recent tensions with Pakistan.
Speaking to news agency ANI, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that no such decision has been taken, and the board has not even held discussions regarding any withdrawal from ACC events.
“Since this morning, it has come to our notice that some news reports have stated that the BCCI has decided not to participate in the Asia Cup and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup,” he stated.
“Such news is devoid of any truth. BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the ensuing ACC events, let alone writing anything to the ACC.”
The reports cited “recent tensions” and quoted a senior BCCI official, who claimed that the Indian team “can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister”—referring to Pakistan’s Interior Minister and current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the ACC President.
The official was also quoted as saying that BCCI had “verbally communicated” its withdrawal from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, slated to be held in Sri Lanka next month, and that all future participation in ACC events was on hold pending directions from the Indian government.
It’s worth noting that the Asia Cup 2025 is slated to be held in India later this year. However, Pakistan will play their games at a neutral venue.
For the unversed, the Asia Cup 2023 was played under a hybrid model, with matches split between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, allowing India to avoid travelling across the border.
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