The staging of the upcoming Asia Cup, slated for September this year, has been plunged into fresh doubt amidst escalating political tensions between India and Pakistan. A crucial Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting is scheduled to take place in Dhaka on July 24th, but officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have expressed their unwillingness to attend, citing security concerns in Bangladesh, a stance that is increasingly complicating the situation.
This reluctance stems from India's recent decision to postpone their August 2025 tour of Bangladesh until September 2026, attributing the delay to political instability in the host nation. The same reasons are now being cited for their disinclination to participate in the ACC meeting in Dhaka. Conversely, Mohsin Naqvi, the current head of the ACC and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been insistent on holding the meeting in the Bangladeshi capital. The BCCI is reportedly incensed by his lack of responsiveness regarding their requests to change the meeting venue.
A source within the Indian cricket board, speaking to Indian media outlet NDTV, issued a stark warning: "The Asia Cup can only happen if the venue for the ACC meeting is shifted from Dhaka to somewhere else. ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is trying to exert unnecessary pressure on India for the meeting. We have requested him to change the venue, but have received no response. If Mohsin Naqvi holds the meeting in Dhaka, the BCCI will boycott any proposals." This explicit threat has cast a fresh shadow of uncertainty over the future of the Asia Cup.
It is pertinent to note that India are the reigning champions of the Asia Cup. Earlier this year, the Champions Trophy was hosted in Pakistan, but India refused to travel, playing all their matches at a neutral venue in Dubai. Furthermore, following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the BCCI had previously refused to play Pakistan on any platform. In the current volatile climate, the decisions of these two cricketing powerhouses will undoubtedly be the determining factor in the fate of the upcoming Asia Cup.
