As geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan deepen, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to raise a pivotal issue at the upcoming ICC Annual Conference in Singapore (July 17–20): whether India and Pakistan should continue to be drawn in the same group at ICC events.
For more than a decade, cricket’s fiercest rivalry has been virtually guaranteed at every ICC tournament, with India and Pakistan consistently placed in the same group to maximize viewership and commercial value. But a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, India, has drastically shifted the equation—both politically and within the cricketing corridors of power.
“The issue is bound to come up for discussion at the annual conference. While prospect of India and Pakistan not playing in ICC knockouts is unlikely, not drawing them in the same group, which has been the norm at ICC events, is a possibility,”
— a BCCI source told PTI.
Rising security concerns reshaping cricket diplomacy
The April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the death of 26 tourists and was reportedly religion-motivated, has intensified India’s stance toward Pakistan. With New Delhi holding Islamabad responsible for the massacre, pressure has mounted on the BCCI from fans and commentators to take a tougher position on cricketing ties.
Although bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2012–13, they have continued to meet in ICC and ACC tournaments. Now, even those limited engagements could be under threat—or at least, altered significantly.
Separate groups could disrupt ICC’s commercial model
If the BCCI succeeds in convincing the ICC to separate the two sides in group stages, the decision could have major financial ramifications. The India-Pakistan clash is the most lucrative fixture in world cricket, routinely breaking viewership records and driving sponsor interest.
Fewer guaranteed matches between the two sides would be a blow to broadcasters, potentially reducing media rights revenue not only for the ICC but also for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Hybrid model and past precedents
The two cricketing boards had previously agreed to a hybrid model through 2027 to allow for India-Pakistan encounters at ICC tournaments without bilateral exposure. Under this arrangement, India played their matches in Dubai during the Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan earlier this year.
It remains to be seen whether the Women’s World Cup 2025, scheduled to be hosted in India later this year, will feature a contest between the two nations under this same hybrid format.
New ICC leadership, same thorny issue
This year’s ICC Annual Conference will mark Jay Shah’s debut as chair of the global governing body. Shah’s presence is expected to strengthen India’s negotiating position on this highly sensitive matter.
While reports earlier suggested that the BCCI might boycott upcoming ACC events due to Pakistani leadership in the Asian cricket body, those claims have been publicly denied by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. Nonetheless, insiders suggest that “strong steps” to isolate Pakistan on the field may still be on the table.
Conclusion
As the cricketing world turns its eyes to Singapore this July, the age-old India-Pakistan rivalry could be set for a strategic shift—one driven as much by national security imperatives as by sport. Whether this results in fewer group-stage clashes or broader consequences for international cricket, one thing is clear: the politics of the subcontinent continue to cast a long shadow over the pitch.
