India, Sri Lanka, Oman push back against Dhaka meeting
According to multiple reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have formally asked the ACC to relocate the meeting, citing political instability and security concerns in Bangladesh. Oman Cricket has also reportedly joined the opposition.
The BCCI’s resistance is particularly significant, given that India is slated to host the Asia Cup 2025 in the T20 format from September 5 to 21.
A BCCI official, as per a report by Times of India, said:
“BCCI has informed the ACC about its unwillingness to send its office bearers to Dhaka. Everyone in the ACC knows the geopolitical situation in the Indian subcontinent. It is rather insensitive for the ACC to organise such an important meeting (in Dhaka).”
Despite the concerns raised, a senior official from Pakistan associated with the ACC confirmed that the meeting would go on as planned.
“We have given a 15-day period so that all the member countries can make their arrangements. If any member doesn’t want to come to Dhaka, there are arrangements for online attendance, but the meeting will be held in Dhaka,” — the official told www.telecomasia.net.
This year’s AGM would be the first held in Bangladesh in several years. ACC President Mohsin Naqvi reportedly chose Dhaka as the host city in light of a concurrent T20I tri-series between Pakistan and Bangladesh taking place there from July 20–24, ensuring that multiple representatives would already be on-site.
Online option offered amid boycott threats
With the opposition growing, the ACC has extended the option for virtual participation — a norm in today’s governance structures.
As per a source from the ACC quoted by GEO News:
“Online meetings are a global norm now, even ACC and ICC have held several of them in the past.”
Still, reports suggest that India has lobbied other member boards to oppose the Dhaka venue, potentially offering incentives to shift allegiances. Despite this, a majority of ACC members reportedly still support holding the meeting in Dhaka.
Asia Cup venue in limbo; UAE on standby
At the center of this disagreement lies the broader uncertainty surrounding the 2025 Asia Cup, especially given the strained political relationship between India and Pakistan. Although India is the official host, there’s increasing speculation that the event may be moved to a neutral venue, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emerging as the frontrunner.
According to a BCCI official, as reported by Times of India:
“UAE has already been zeroed down as the venue for the Asia Cup. But the issue here is whether India should play Pakistan at all. UAE was almost confirmed just before the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.”
That uncertainty is further compounded by geopolitical considerations. India had previously refused to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Champions Trophy, prompting Pakistan to reciprocate by declining to tour India for any multi-nation tournament until 2027. That earlier agreement led to the 2023 Asia Cup adopting a hybrid model, with India’s matches hosted in Sri Lanka and the rest in Pakistan.
If no resolution is reached, the BCCI may even withdraw from the tournament altogether.
As per the BCCI official, Times of India reports:
“If the ACC doesn’t pay heed, BCCI may pull out of the Asia Cup too.”
Hosting uncertainty clouds tournament plans
While the Asia Cup is scheduled to begin on September 5, the lack of consensus over both the ACC meeting and the venue for the tournament has thrown preparations into disarray. The fixture between India and Pakistan — tentatively set for September 7 — remains a major draw, but it’s also the most affected by political friction.
Although the BCCI recently postponed a bilateral tour to Bangladesh that was supposed to take place in August, the board is actively seeking alternative fixtures to keep its players engaged. Offers have reportedly come from Sri Lanka and England to host India during that window should the Asia Cup be called off.
What’s next?
With just weeks to go before the ACC’s AGM and less than two months until the Asia Cup is due to begin, the fate of the continental tournament — and the ability of member boards to find common ground — hangs in the balance. Whether the ACC bends to pressure from some of its most influential members or sticks to its Dhaka plans could determine not just the future of this meeting, but the shape of the Asia Cup itself.
