Pakistan´s Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi (C) speaks with the group members throughout a observe session on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium in Dubai on February 22, 2025, a day forward of their ICC Champions Trophy one-day worldwide (ODI) cricket match in opposition to India. — AFP
The destiny of the 2025 Asia Cup hangs precariously as India has threatened a whole boycott of the event if Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, doesn’t journey to Singapore to attend the Worldwide Cricket Council’s (ICC) Annual Basic Assembly (AGM).
At present, PCB Chief Working Officer (COO) Sameer Ahmed Syed is representing Pakistan in individual on the ICC assembly — happening from July 17 to twenty — in Singapore, the place representatives from main Asian cricket boards are current.
This 12 months’s convention is especially important, because it marks the primary time ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who not too long ago assumed workplace, will preside over the assembly.
Naqvi, who can be the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has opted to take part within the ICC assembly nearly from Pakistan. This choice has fuelled tensions, significantly after Naqvi scheduled a separate ACC assembly in Dhaka, a transfer strongly disapproved by India together with Afghanistan, Oman, and Sri Lanka.
Indian media studies counsel that any choice on the Dhaka assembly within the absence of India, Afghanistan, Oman, and Sri Lanka might be thought-about insignificant.
The core of India’s demand revolves round a change within the venue for the upcoming ACC assembly, with the event’s future reportedly hinging on this alteration. Nonetheless, sources near the ACC point out that Naqvi stays resolute in his choice to not change the assembly venue.
The Asia Cup is tentatively scheduled for September within the T20 format, with India set to host the event.
Speculations about India doubtlessly withdrawing from the event as a consequence of heightened tensions had beforehand circulated, however Shah, who beforehand served as secretary of the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI), has dismissed such studies.
In an try to de-escalate the state of affairs, the ACC has provided member international locations the flexibleness to take part within the Asia Cup assembly on-line if direct attendance just isn’t possible.
Regardless of this concession, the specter of a full-blown Asia Cup boycott looms massive, elevating considerations concerning the instant way forward for certainly one of cricket’s most anticipated regional tournaments.
