The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday dismissed reports suggesting India’s withdrawal from upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events as part of a strategy to isolate Pakistan.
Earlier, The Indian Express claimed, citing unnamed sources, that the BCCI had informed the ACC of its intention to skip the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the Men’s Asia Cup in September. The report alleged that India objected to participating in tournaments overseen by the ACC, whose current president is Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The source quoted in the report argued that India’s absence would render the Asia Cup commercially unviable, given Indian sponsors’ dominance in global cricket financing.
However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia categorically denied the claims in a statement to ANI, calling them “baseless and speculative.” He emphasized that the BCCI has not initiated any discussions or decisions regarding ACC events. “Our immediate focus remains on the ongoing IPL and the upcoming series against England, both for men and women,” he said.
Saikia added that any decisions regarding ACC tournaments would be announced officially through appropriate channels.
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2007, limiting their encounters to international events on neutral venues.
