Defending champions India pull out of Asia Cup 2025 – Reports

India and Sri Lanka were to host the Asia Cup 2025 tournament.

Defending Champions India have reportedly pulled out of the Asia Cup 2025 tournament. In light of the escalating hostilities with Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has determined that India will neither host nor participate in the 2025 Asia Cup.

This year’s tournament was scheduled to be hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, which was supposed to take place in Sri Lanka next month, has reportedly been canceled due to the continuing conflict between India and Pakistan.

BCCI informs ACC of their decision to pull out India men’s and India women’s teams from the Asia Cup tournaments

A final decision about the September Men’s Asia Cup will be taken at the next meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is chaired by Mohsin Naqvi of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 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 Pakistani 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 also on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” said a BCCI source to the Indian Express.

According to sources, the BCCI is aware that since India provides the majority of the sponsorships for international cricket events, and Asia Cup without India is not a realistic possibility. Furthermore, the broadcasters would not be interested in an Asia Cup without the lucrative India-Pakistan match.

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) paid $170 million in 2024 to acquire the Asia Cup rights for the following eight years. Should this tournament not happen, the agreement would need to be renegotiated.

The five full members of the ACC — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan — get 15 per cent each from the broadcasting revenue, while the rest is distributed among associates and affiliates.

India has refused to travel to Pakistan and vice-versa. Pakistan didn’t come to India when they were to host the 2018 Asia Cup and India didn’t travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. With India making it to the final — and winning the Cup — Pakistan missed its chance to host the title contest.

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