The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed recent reports suggesting it plans to boycott the Asia Cup T20 2025, despite growing political tensions and the appointment of Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi – also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the new head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). But sources indicate that despite an outright boycott not being on the table, India may still take strategic measures to ostracize the Pakistan cricket team in international competitions.
Tension After Pahalgam Terror Attack
The geopolitical context for this is the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir followed by India’s Operation Sindoor that broke up several terror camps in the region. These incidents have further heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with increasing public and expert sentiment in India demanding a hardline response in the form of a possible boycott of matches against Pakistan in international cricket.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-13 and only meet in multi-country events like the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments.
Conflicting Reports Over Asia Cup Participation
One of India’s largest newspapers recently stated that the BCCI had written to the ACC stating that it would pull out of the Men’s Asia Cup and Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, citing concerns about the Pakistani-led leadership of the ACC.
But BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia denied such an allegation. In spite of such a denial, an internal source from the BCCI suggested the board will lobby for India and Pakistan being kept in separate groups in upcoming ICC events, which will be done to avoid on-field encounters between the two nations.
India and Pakistan in Different Groups in Upcoming ICC Events?
This proposal is set to be considered at the forthcoming ICC Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Singapore from July 17 to 20. The India-Pakistan matter will probably be a top agenda point at the conference, as per the BCCI source, which will also be the first under new ICC Chairman Jay Shah.
“The issue will surely be brought up at the annual meeting. While avoiding possible India-Pakistan knockout games might be impossible, bringing them in different groups – opposite to the recent trend in ICC events – might be a feasible reality,” the source informed PTI.
Financial Impact and Current Agreements
India and Pakistan have traditionally been kept in the same group for ICC tournaments to guarantee at least one contest between these two arch-rivals. These matches have always remained broadcasters’ top moneyspinners, attracting huge audiences and ad revenue. If the BCCI manages to persuade the ICC to alter this format, it would mean huge financial losses—not only for broadcasters, but also for the ICC and PCB.
It is to be noted that India and Pakistan have already committed to a hybrid hosting arrangement for ICC tournaments until 2027. Under this model, for instance, India hosted its matches in Dubai during the Champions Trophy 2025 despite the Pakistan staging of the tournament.
As political tensions keep affecting cricketing choices, the July ICC conference is likely to decide the fate of India-Pakistan matches on the world stage.
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