The secretary of the Indian cricket board, Devajit Saikia, has refuted claims made by media personnel regarding India’s plans to skip attending the Asia Cup in 2025 due to its strained relations with Pakistan.
A few Indian news outlets published a story stating they had information concerning the BCCI’s (Board of Control for Cricket in India) plans to abandon the Asia Cup contest set for September in Pakistan, purportedly because the Asian Cricket Council is chaired by a Pakistani – Mohsin Naqvi, who simultaneously serves as the Minister of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
However, under Saikia’s mandate, the BCCI secretary, who succeeded Jay Shah, now the chair of ICC did dismiss the Indian media reports stating that it did not warrant any serious consideration.
“The issue regarding the Asia Cup or any other matter concerning the ACC has, at no elevational tier, been a focal point for discussion, therefore any information or reporting on that is of purely hypothetical and fictitious nature.”
“Although it may be argued that the BCCI, whenever any conversation is held regarding any pertinent matters concerning the ACC, does decide that any significant information that has been determined in the discussion will subsequently be disseminated in the press,” the statement continued.
Indian major dailies, the Indian Express, had speculated that India, who also previously refrained from sending their national team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year citing security concerns, are poised to pull out of the Emerging Women’s Team Asia Cup next month, followed by the Men’s Asia Cup in September.
However, Saikia denied that he had had any conversations with the Asian Cricket Council about India’s possible participation in these events.
“From this morning, we have been informed of press articles regarding the decision made by the BCCI concerning their participation in the Asia Cup as well as the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both events organized by the ACC. Such statements are absolutely unfounded,” Saikia added.
“The BCCI has as of yet, not even spoken or undertaken any primitive measures regarding the ACC events, much less articulated anything to the ACC. Right now, our foremost attention is directed towards the ongoing IPL and the subsequent series with England, both for the men’s and women’s teams.”
Earlier this month, India and Pakistan consented to a mutual ceasefire agreement after a military clash of four days between the two nuclear powers of South Asia, post the 26 casualties in a terror incident at Pahalgam, Kashmir.
India alleged that Pakistan-supported extremists carried out the attack, while Pakistan’s government has vehemently dismissed these claims.
The two countries were on the verge of a full-scale war after they increasingly aggressed each other’s territories with missiles and drones until a ceasefire was declared on May 10.
In the midst of the intensifying conflict both countries’ cricket boards were compelled to cancel their marquee T20 leagues, Indian IPL and PSL on the other side of the border.
Prior to the stop date, the two leagues were set to commence on May 17 with new and adjusted schedules.
The animosities that exist in the realm of politics between India and Pakistan are present even in sports. The two countries’ primary national teams have not played bilateral series with one another since 2013.
Pakistan’s security concerns have restricted them from freely touring other nations, allowing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host selective international tournaments. Because of these policies in place, the ICC had no choice but to introduce the hybrid system for the 2025 Champions Trophy when India insisted on not visiting Pakistan.
The Indian team won the competition in March and subsequently lifted the trophy. Their complete tournament schedule was held in Dubai, which included the semifinal and final matches.