Following the recent escalation in India-Pakistan hostilities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to stay away from all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events for now.
The BCCI has informed the ACC about its decision to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and from the biennial Men’s Asia Cup in September.
The ACC is currently headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.
Sources said the decision is part of a move to isolate Pakistan cricket. “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. 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,” said a BCCI source.
The BCCI’s position puts a question mark on the Men’s Asia Cup that India was to host in September. The tournament, featuring India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, is likely to be put on the back burner for now.
Sources said the BCCI is aware that an Asia Cup without India is not a feasible option as most of the sponsors of international cricket events are from India. Moreover, an Asia Cup without the money-spinning India-Pakistan contest would not interest the broadcasters.
