The geopolitical tension between India and Pakistan has cast a shadow over the fate of the Asia Cup 2025. The upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), scheduled on July 24-25 in Dhaka, was meant to finalise the venue and schedule of the continental tournament. However, India’s refusal to attend the meeting in Dhaka has created fresh uncertainty as they now received backing from both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to change the meeting venue as reported by Cricbuzz.
This latest development is a major setback for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The ACC constitution requires at least three permanent (Test-playing) members and ten full or associate members to be present for the meeting to proceed. With India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan unlikely to travel to Dhaka, the PCB’s plans for the AGM hang by a thread. Meanwhile, the Cricbuzz report suggest many nations, such as Oman, Nepal, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, and Kuwait, are also unlikely to attend, further weakening the quorum needed.
Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that Mohsin Naqvi, who heads both the PCB and the ACC, reportedly skipped the ICC Annual AGM in Singapore to meet government officials in Kabul, hoping to secure Afghanistan’s support. But according to sources, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has now aligned with India’s stance and may boycott the Dhaka meeting altogether.
Also read: Asia Cup 2025 Fate Unclear as ACC Considers Moving AGM from Dhaka - Reports
Why India Want the ACC AGM Moved from Dhaka?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear early that it would not send its representatives to Dhaka, citing the politically sensitive environment.
Sources from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) suggest there were internal discussions urging president Aminul Islam to reconsider. However, Aminul chose to honour the commitment he gave to the PCB, despite knowing the potential fallout with India.
"It now seems the event has turned into a geopolitical matter. Aminul (Islam, the interim head of the BCB) could have handled the situation more carefully when approached by the PCB president to host the meeting. I think he could have taken more time because, in situations like this, taking time is part of the game. Probably due to inexperience, he agreed to host it without fully understanding the geopolitical implications," a BCB source said as quoted to Cricbuzz.
"Bulbul (Aminul) was requested to cancel the meeting as some of the board directors were not ready to do anything that can hurt the BCCI but the president insisted that he had given his word so cannot return back after giving his words to PCB," he added.
The move has not gone down well with the BCCI, which has also cancelled a white-ball tour of Bangladesh, adding more fuel to the ongoing fire.
Cloud Over Asia Cup 2025: What Lies Ahead?
The deadlock over the AGM has now spilled into serious doubts regarding the Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled in September. The tournament is supposed to be hosted by India but the latest political friction threatens to derail those plans. If the AGM fails to meet quorum or descends into a power struggle, it could delay or even jeopardise the finalisation of the Asia Cup schedule.
The BCCI reportedly sees Pakistan’s absence as non-essential to the event’s success from a hosting standpoint.
While Pakistan may choose to skip the event if its concerns are not addressed, India may do the same if the current venue of the AGM remains unchanged.
Also read: BCCI-PCB Talks on Asia Cup 2025 Likely on ICC AGM Sidelines - Reports
