The 2025 Asia Cup is hanging in the balance as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and several other cricket boards have refused to participate in the upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting scheduled for July 24 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
According to reports by Times Now News and India Today, the BCCI has expressed strong objections to the meeting being held in Dhaka, citing ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh. The move has triggered renewed uncertainty around the tournament’s venue and viability — especially with just weeks to go before the expected September window.
BCCI warns of boycott over meeting venue
India, the defending Asia Cup champions and one of the region’s most influential cricketing nations, has issued a firm warning that it will boycott any resolutions passed during the meeting in Dhaka if the venue is not changed.
“Asia Cup can happen only if the meeting venue changes from Dhaka. ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi is trying to assert unnecessary pressure on India for the meeting. We requested him to change the venue, but have received no response. BCCI will boycott any resolution if Mohsin Naqvi goes ahead with the meeting in Dhaka,” a BCCI source told reporters.
The ACC is currently chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Tensions have reportedly escalated due to his insistence on holding the meeting in Dhaka, despite India’s objections.
India not alone in boycott — support from key allies
The BCCI’s hard stance has found backing from multiple member boards. According to Times Now News, the cricket boards of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Oman have all pledged support and are also expected to skip the Dhaka meeting if the venue remains unchanged.
“The BCCI has clearly communicated its stance to both the ACC and chairperson Naqvi. They have also personally requested a change in venue, but there has been no response so far,” a source told India Today.
The ACC Constitution requires participation from key member boards to legally pass major decisions, including tournament scheduling and venue approval. Without BCCI and its allies present, any resolution passed in the Dhaka meeting may not be deemed legitimate.
Tensions beyond cricket impact proceedings
The standoff comes amid a broader geopolitical context. India and Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations have grown tense since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, and this has already impacted cricketing ties. The BCCI and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently postponed India’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh — initially scheduled for August 2025 — to September 2026.
The Asia Cup meeting controversy appears to be the latest fallout of those strained ties, deepening the uncertainty around the six-team tournament, which is set to be played in T20 format this year.
A familiar pattern of neutral venues
This isn’t the first time India has opted out of playing in Pakistan or Bangladesh. India did not travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup either. That edition used a hybrid model, with India playing its matches in Sri Lanka. Similarly, during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, India’s matches — including the final — were held at neutral venues, with the Men in Blue defeating New Zealand to win the tournament.
In recent months, speculation swirled about India potentially skipping both the 2025 Asia Cup and the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup over political tensions. However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed such claims at the time, calling them “speculative and imaginary.”
What happens next?
With just days remaining until the scheduled meeting in Dhaka, no official decision has been made about shifting the venue. The BCCI’s refusal to attend, combined with the support from other boards and constitutional roadblocks, means the Asia Cup could face postponement or even cancellation unless a resolution is found swiftly.
Hosting the tournament without India — the tournament’s biggest commercial draw and defending champions — is considered nearly unviable. Stakeholders across the cricket ecosystem will now be watching closely as the ACC navigates the impasse, with the clock ticking toward the September tournament window.
