Asia Cup 2025: Major Setback for Pakistan as India Gains Support to Relocate ACC Meeting

The Asia Cup 2025 has taken a dramatic turn, dealing a blow to Pakistan's hopes while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scores a diplomatic victory. The upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 24–25 July in Dhaka, is now under dispute as India, along with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, has decided to boycott the meeting if held in Dhaka.

India Opposes Dhaka as Venue, Gains Support

India’s strained relations with Bangladesh have prompted the BCCI to reject Dhaka as the meeting venue. The BCCI believes that certain conditions proposed by ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), are not acceptable.

Now, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have echoed India’s concerns and also declined to attend the meeting in Dhaka. All three nations have urged for the meeting to be relocated, dealing a diplomatic setback to both Pakistan and the ACC leadership.

ACC Rules and Geopolitical Fallout

According to ACC rules, regular Test-playing members must be present for an official meeting. With India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan opting out, the quorum is now under threat.

A source from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) revealed to Cricbuzz that the issue has escalated into a geopolitical dispute. The BCB interim head, Aminul Islam, is facing internal criticism for not handling the matter more diplomatically. Despite being urged by some board directors to cancel the meeting to avoid offending India, Islam is sticking to his commitment to Mohsin Naqvi.

Participation in Doubt

According to reports, at least 10 full or associate members must be present to validate the meeting. However, participation from key associate and full members like Oman, Nepal, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, Thailand, and others seems uncertain due to logistical and diplomatic challenges.

Background Tensions

This is not the first recent fallout between India and Bangladesh. Earlier, India had cancelled a limited-overs series against Bangladesh, further straining bilateral cricket ties.

What This Means for the Asia Cup 2025

This rift could significantly impact the planning and organization of the Asia Cup 2025, especially if the venue for the ACC meeting isn't changed. The situation not only highlights growing regional cricketing politics but also weakens Pakistan’s influence within the ACC framework.

With three major cricketing nations refusing to attend, the future of the ACC’s functioning and the Asia Cup itself could face delays or re-evaluation in structure and scheduling.