Asia Cup: BCCI dismisses reports of pullout as 'speculative and imaginary'

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup, jinxed throughout its four-decade journey, seems to be mired in uncertainty yet again. A media report says that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) about India's withdrawal from the cricket tournament as well as the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, even though the Indian board has denied any such move as of now.

Replying to a query from National Herald, BCCI secretary Devojit Saikia said: ‘’Since this morning, some news items about the BCCI’s decision to not participate in the Asia Cup and Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both ACC events, have come to our notice. Such news is devoid of any truth as until now, the BCCI  has not even discussed or taken any such step regarding ensuing ACC events, leave alone writing anything to the ACC. At this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and subsequent England series, both men and women.

‘’The Asia Cup matter or any other ACC event issue has not come up for  discussion at any level, hence any news or report on that is purely speculative and imaginary. It may be said that as and when any discussion on ACC events takes place and any important decision is reached, it will be announced through media.’’

While the official stand dismissed an Indian Express report in this regard as ‘purely speculative and imaginary’, doubts persist in the cricketing fraternity as India seems to be in no mood to engage in any cricketing relationship with Pakistan even in multi-nation events after the recent military conflict as part of Operation Sindoor. The India-Pakistan game, incidentally, grabs most eyeballs in the ACC as well as ICC mega events like the World Cup and the Champions Trophy.  

Only last year, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) bagged the Asia Cup telecast rights for the next eight years for US $170 million. The five full members of the Dubai-based ACC — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan — receive 15 per cent each from the broadcasting revenue, while the rest is distributed among associates and affiliates.

Meanwhile, Jio-Hotstar holds the terrestrial rights to all ICC properties for an eight-year cycle until 2031, and there could be legal ramifications of any nation pulling out without a force majeure. There were unconfirmed reports earlier that BCCI has also written to the ICC with a request to not group India and Pakistan together in future events.  

Hybrid model as saviour

The Asia Cup, a continental event conceived in the mid 1980s to consolidate the Asian bloc as a cricketing force, has had a chequered history owing to the volatile relations between India and Pakistan. In recent years, the UAE has been used as a neutral venue in 2018 and 2022. The previous edition in 2023 was held in a hybrid manner, with India playing all its matches in Sri Lanka as Pakistan ended up hosting lesser matches on its home soil as hosts. The contentious India-Pakistan game was held in Pallekele and in the final in Colombo, India beat Sri Lanka for the title.

The template was replayed at the 2024 ICC Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan. India pushed for a hybrid model once again and played its games in Dubai, making it to the final where it beat New Zealand.

However, the agreement now is that neither India or Pakistan will be playing on each other’s soil in any ICC event until 2027, a deal which includes the ICC Women’s World Cup later this year and the Men’s T20 World Cup next year.