Mumbai, May 19 (UNI) Dismissing media speculation, Indian cricket board Secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday clarified that no decision has been taken to withdraw from upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events, including the Asia Cup and the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
"Since this morning, we have come across reports claiming that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has decided not to participate in the Asia Cup and the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both of which are ACC events. These reports are entirely baseless," Saikia said.
He stressed that no such matter has been discussed internally. "The BCCI has neither deliberated on nor taken any steps regarding the forthcoming ACC events, let alone communicated anything to the ACC," he added.
Saikia further stated that the BCCI's current focus remains on the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) and the upcoming series against England, for both men’s and women’s teams.
Speculation over India's participation in the Asia Cup has intensified amid rising India-Pakistan tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which briefly led to a halt in both the IPL and Pakistan Super League (PSL). The tournaments resumed on May 17 after a temporary ceasefire was agreed on May 10.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir recently voiced his personal view, opposing cricketing ties with Pakistan amid ongoing cross-border violence. "Till all this \\\\\\\\[terrorism] doesn't stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan," he said.
Traditionally, the BCCI has required prior clearance from the Indian government to face Pakistan in multilateral events. In 2023, India declined to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, prompting the ACC to adopt a hybrid model with India's matches held in Sri Lanka. A similar arrangement is expected for the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India scheduled to play its matches in Dubai.
Political tensions have repeatedly impacted the Asia Cup, leading to withdrawals, revised formats, and in some cases, cancellation of the tournament altogether. India-Pakistan matches, among the most-watched globally, play a significant role in the commercial value of ICC and ACC broadcast rights. UNI BDN SSP