The current hostilities between India and Pakistan on the border areas are set to have an extended and lasting affect on the cricketing relations between the 2 international locations. While India and Pakistan have been already in opposition to taking part in bilateral cricket, the worsened political relations between the 2 nations have jeopardized multi-team occasions between the 2 groups too. With a Pakistan minister heading the Asian Cricket Council – the physique governing cricketing affairs within the continent – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to tug out of this yr’s Asia Cup, in a bid to additional isolate the neighbouring nation.
The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be held in India, however with a match in opposition to Pakistan all however out of the image, the competition does not maintain a lot significance from a monetary standpoint. While international locations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan additionally earn revenues from the match, the largest attraction unarguably stays an India vs Pakistan conflict.
However, contemplating the present political local weather, the BCCI does not appear to be eager on persevering with with the Asia Cup plan. Such a situation would damage the financials of the Asian physique, led by Mohsin Naqvi, who can be the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Naqvi assumed the position after Jay Shah, former secretary of the BCCI, vacated the position after being named the chairman of the International Cricket Council.
“The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC, whose chief is a Pakistani minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” Indian Express quoted a BCCI supply as saying.
With a lot of the sponsors for the Asia Cup coming from India, the present anti-Pakistan sentiment within the nation makes it fairly difficult for the BCCI to go forward with the match’s plans.
In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) purchased the media rights for the Asia Cup for a payment of 170 million US {dollars}. However, the deal would should be reworked if the Asia Cup does not occur this yr.
The 2023 Asia Cup noticed a hybrid mannequin being adopted, with part of the match happening in Sri Lanka. India went on to clinch the title in Colombo whereas Pakistan didn’t even qualify for the ultimate.
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