BCCI may want to avoid India-Pakistan clashes in ICC group stages — but what does that mean for the upcoming Asia Cup?

BCCI’s Alleged Move to Separate India and Pakistan in ICC Tournaments Amid Kashmir Tragedy

In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives on Tuesday, rumours have circulated suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took decisive action by writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting that India and Pakistan no longer be placed in the same group for ICC tournaments.

According to a Cricbuzz report, the BCCI is reportedly seeking to avoid an India-Pakistan clash, at least in the group stages of future ICC events. The next major ICC tournament, the Women’s ODI World Cup, is set to take place in September in India, where Pakistan has qualified for the eight-team competition. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, and as per prior agreements, Pakistan will not play any matches in India, with the host nation yet to finalize a neutral venue.

However, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the board would adhere to whatever decision the Indian government makes on this matter. Despite these reports, a senior BCCI official claimed to be unaware of any such development.

What about the Asia Cup?

The next major ICC men’s cricket tournament is set for 2026, with the T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka between February and March. However, the immediate concern for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the upcoming Asia Cup, which is scheduled for September, with India as the host. While earlier reports from Cricbuzz suggested that the tournament would be played entirely at a neutral venue, with Dubai and Sri Lanka as likely options, recent developments have added complexity to the situation.

A fresh report from the website highlights that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has sold the media rights for the Asia Cup, valued at $170 million for four editions, based on an unofficial understanding that each edition will feature at least two India-Pakistan matches. There is also the possibility of a third match if the two teams meet in the final. This media rights deal, which is middle-heavy, means the 2025 edition will cost around $38 million—below the average of $42.5 million per edition.

In the 2023 edition of the tournament, India and Pakistan faced off twice—once in the group stage and again in the Super Four, although the second match was washed out due to rain, and Pakistan failed to reach the final. India won the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

While the draw for the 2025 Asia Cup is expected to be announced in May, the ACC is expected to take time to consider its options for both the draw and the venue. The report concludes by stating that any final decision will largely depend on the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, with the situation expected to influence the tournament’s outcome and venue choices.