Asia Cup 2025: BCCI bound to play Pakistan after ACC nod, sources confirm
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New Delhi: Amid mounting uncertainty over the highly anticipated India-Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup, sources have confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cannot withdraw from the tournament, and the marquee clash will proceed as scheduled. The confirmation comes after the BCCI gave its nod during a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
On Saturday, the ACC released the complete schedule for the 17th edition of the Asia Cup, placing India and Pakistan in Group A alongside hosts United Arab Emirates and Oman. The league-stage clash between the arch-rivals is set for September 14.
“The BCCI cannot pull out of the tournament or the match now. The decision was finalised during the ACC meeting. India is the host nation, and the schedule has been locked in. An official-level discussion led to this outcome, and the match will go ahead as planned,” BCCI sources told IANS on Sunday.
Uncertainty around the fixture emerged after the India Champions team, led by former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, refused to play against the Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham. The decision, influenced by rising political tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, led organisers to cancel the Legends match.
Despite the political backdrop, the BCCI has not indicated any intention to boycott Pakistan in the Asia Cup, especially after the official schedule announcement.
ACC president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the dates on Saturday, ending months of speculation. The tournament, set to be played in the T20 format in alignment with preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, will, for the first time, feature eight participating teams.
Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Four stage, followed by the final, opening up the possibility of up to three India-Pakistan matches during the tournament.
India enters the competition as the defending champions, having defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the 2023 edition.
With IANS inputs
