India to skip 2025 Asia Cup? BCCI denies

Contrary to widespread media speculation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied making any decision to pull out of the 2025 Asia Cup or other upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events.

Speaking to news agency ANI on Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia quashed the rumours, labelling them as "speculative and imaginary", stating that no such discussion had even taken place within the board.

"Since this morning, it has come to our notice that some news reports have stated that the BCCI has decided not to participate in the Asia Cup and the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup," Saikia said.

"Such news is devoid of any truth. BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the ensuing ACC events, let alone writing anything to the ACC."

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Will India-Pakistan conflict jeopardise Tigers' upcoming fixtures?

Earlier in the day, The Indian Express had reported that the BCCI had verbally informed the ACC of its decision to withdraw from both the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and the Men's Asia Cup in September. The report linked the move to renewed political tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after Pakistan's Mohsin Naqvi took over as ACC president.

A BCCI official was quoted as saying, "The Indian team can't play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC whose chief is a Pakistan minister. That's the sentiment of the nation."

However, BCCI secretary Saikia's statement now puts a question mark on the credibility of that claim.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2007, with meetings restricted to ICC or ACC events. Even those have often been played under hybrid models – as seen in the 2023 Asia Cup – with India's matches moved to neutral venues like Sri Lanka or the UAE.