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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly preparing to withdraw India from all upcoming events organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), including the Asia Cup 2025.
According to reports by The Indian Express, the decision follows renewed hostilities along the India-Pakistan border, but it’s not merely a reactionary stance.
The move is symbolic and strategic, meant to isolate the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at a time when Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also serves as the ACC president.
The Immediate Fallout
India’s withdrawal impacts two key ACC tournaments: the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled for September.
The latter, slated to be hosted in India, now stands on precarious ground. With India opting out, the tournament loses not just its biggest draw, but also its commercial core.
An Asia Cup without India is unlikely to attract viewership or sustain its broadcasting value. The high-voltage India vs Pakistan rivalry, which serves as the main revenue magnet, would be missing, making the event less marketable and, in practical terms, unfeasible.
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The Financial Domino Effect
The consequences ripple beyond scheduling. In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) acquired the Asia Cup broadcast rights for $170 million over eight years. A tournament without India necessitates restructuring or renegotiation of the deal, which could erode the financial base of the ACC.
Under ACC’s revenue-sharing model, the five full members, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, each receive 15% of broadcasting revenues, with the remainder distributed among associate members.
Without India, not only will the central pool reduce significantly, but also the justification for equal splits will come under question.
Looking Ahead:
The absence of India from the Asia Cup isn’t just about one team stepping aside, but it’s about reshaping the cricketing map of Asia. The BCCI’s stance is clear: as long as Pakistan’s dual role in cricket and governance continues, bilateral or multilateral cricketing ties remain untenable.
For Pakistan, the implications go beyond empty fixtures. They include commercial losses, diplomatic setbacks, and reputational hits, at a time when PCB is already under scrutiny for its internal management and on-field performance.
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As the countdown to the Asia Cup 2025 begins, the larger question isn’t whether India will return; it’s how Pakistan and the ACC plan to move forward in a cricketing landscape where India’s absence changes everything.
