As BCCI heads towards a possible withdrawal from the 2025 Asia Cup due to growing Indo-Pak tensions and the recent appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and head of the Asian Cricket Council, South Asian cricketing circles are about to face a catastrophic shift. This turn of events not only puts the continent’s premier tournament in jeopardy but also reveals the interwoven strands of politics and finance that govern cricket in this part of the world.
Change of Youth Leadership: Mohsin Naqvi’s Appointment and its Outcomes
With July marking one year in office, Mohsin Naqvi, the newly appointed PCB chairman and interior minister of Pakistan, assumed ACC presidency in April 2025, succeeding Jay Shah from India. Despite the heavy political backlashes, Naqvi’s appointment has been praised in some circles—especially in Bangladesh—hoping it will foster more growth and collaboration in Asian cricket. However, having one person in control of such high-profile offices from one nation is surely going to ruffle a few feathers in India and elsewhere.
BCCI’s Withdrawal: The Political and Cricketing Context
BCCI’s withdrawal from the Asia Cup stems from patriotic feelings, security issues, and its long-standing policy of not playing Pakistan, especially in recent times when cross-border skirmishes have escalated alongside military activities in the region. The conflict stems from increased military and political posturing from both sides after recent cross-border skirmishes and military activities within the region. The Board of Control for Cricket in India seems to have made up its mind and conveyed its position to the ACC that playing in a region controlled by a Pakistani ministerial tournament at this time is not plausible.
Financial Fallout: Impact on PCB, ACC, and Sponsors
India’s withdrawal from sponsoring the tournament would directly open an unprecedented financial Pandora’s box for the PCB & ACC. The Asia Cup’s revenue driver is Indian participation, with television and sponsorship contracts such as the despicable 170 million contract … from Sony Pictures Networks India that depends on the unprecedented viewership India-Pakistan matches generate. The absence of India causes the tournament’s commercial value to dramatically decrease, potentially costing the PCB an estimated ₹165–220 crore (~$20–26 million) per cycle. The loss is bound to the PCB, which is already suffering with financial resources due to low revenue since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Broader Impacts for Asian Cricket
The impacts are deeper than just India and Pakistan. The rest of the Asian cricket boards, like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and even Afghanistan, are completely dependent on Indian markets for sponsorships and revenue. If India decides to not take part in the Asia Cup, their India-Asia sponsorship interests will attenuate, which would damage the tournament’s value. Other developing Asian cricketing nations, including grassroots initiatives, already planned for India’s response and will end up facing the consequences.
Precedent in History: Past Disruptions and Hybrid Models
There have been instances where political problems have interfered with Asian cricket. For instance, India not traveling to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2023 caused the matches to be in a hybrid model. Half of the matches were played in Pakistan and half in Sri Lanka. However, this case is different, as India not only cancels playing Pakistan but also all the games run by the ACC and under the control of the Pakistani chairman.
Looking Ahead: Isolation, Uncertainty, and the Future
Most observers view the BCCI’s action as an exacerbation of isolation inflicted on Pakistan cricket. With India’s forfeit, the Asia Cup 2025 risks facing cancellation, and the future of multinational tournaments in the continent is hanging in the balance. Under Naqvi’s guidance, the PCB is going to suffer greatly in terms of finances and reputation, while the ACC will have to deal with a divided cricket world.
Both politically and in terms of sport, Asia has arguably reached its most volatile moment owing to the BCCI’s pullout from the Asia Cup organized by an ACC headed by Pakistan, which could lead to a massive shift for the game in the region.
