A bumpy road to the Asia Cup 2025

Arab News

3 days ago

When last week's column was published, the drama over whether the 2025 Asia Cup would be played or not still rumbled on. There was even uncertainty over whether the Annual General Meeting of the Asia Cricket Council, scheduled for July 24 and 25 in Dhaka, would be quorate.
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In the end, the ACC's meeting did take place, with several constituent boards participating virtually, including India. The formal press release pointedly stated that the meeting, held on July 24, was attended by 100 percent of the ACC's 25 members.
There was approval for the audited financial accounts, the ACC budget and the comprehensive 2025-2026 tournament calendar, involving all member countries.
It was announced that cricket would be included in the 2026 Asian Games, due to be held in Japan, involving 10 men's and eight women's teams, to be chosen based on their rankings. Three new member nations were welcomed — Mongolia, Uzbekistan and the Philippines.
These positive outcomes should not suggest that all is well in the camp, with sensitivities running high. The meeting was adjourned rather than concluded, on the basis that the election of a new vice president did not take place.
Reports suggest that Mumbashir Usmani of the Emirates Cricket Board and the recently elected Mahinda Vallipuram, president of the Malaysian Cricket Association, were contenders.
Most notably, a formal decision on the Asia Cup was not taken. It was not even referred to in the press release. However, an impression was given that it would take place, pending input from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the tournament's official host.
After the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi, head of both the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ACC stated that 'the decision regarding the Asia Cup will come soon. The venue and schedule will be announced too.'
In this, he was not wrong. On Saturday, July 26, he was 'delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from Sept. 9 to 28. We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket! Detailed schedule will be out soon. #CricketWins.'
Hopefully, his optimism will be rewarded. Given the drama so far, more bumps in the road might be expected. Soon enough, reactions on social media emanating from India were negative against playing Pakistan. Former players and military officials weighed in, favoring boycotts.
One former captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, was more nuanced in commenting on the selective nature of sporting ties with Pakistan, in which India plays against Pakistan in international cricket tournaments but not bilateral series. He said that 'if we have to play, then we should play every sport — not just by picking and choosing.' This is an unlikely scenario.
There are deeper layers to these decisions. Currently, the BCCI does not come under the purview of the Sports Ministry. A National Sports Governance Bill, designed to oversee the function of sports federations, is moving through parliament.
Although, officially, the ministry does not have a say, its view seems to be that any bilateral sporting engagement with Pakistan remains out of the question. This position is soon going to rub up against the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any discrimination based on political issues.
India recognizes this by stating that it would not stop Pakistan from coming to India for international events. India has ambitions to host the 2036 Olympics, whilst cricket is set to be played in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The qualification requirements for participation are awaited. If, as seems likely, this will be by region, then India holds a higher ranking than Pakistan and will qualify.
All eyes are on the BCCI as it assesses its response to the public sentiment in India against Pakistan. There is the potential for India and Pakistan to play each other in the Asia Cup three times. Both have been drawn in Group A, along with Oman and the UAE.
After a round robin format in the group stage, the top four teams will play a Super Four format. There, India and Pakistan will play each other again, if they finish in the top two places in their group. A top two finish for both in the Super Four would see them through to the final on Sept. 28.
This prospect is a bonanza for broadcasters, advertisers and marketers. Is it really feasible that the BCCI would pull out of these fixtures? In November 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India acquired the media rights for all ACC tournaments from 2024 to 2031 at the base price of $170 million.
Although it represented a 70 percent increase over the previous cycle, there was no competitive bidding. Despite Jio-Star's presence at the submission of technical bids, it did not participate in the e-auction. This is likely to be an indication of a cooling down in what has been a highly competitive market for major cricket rights since 2012, the last time that premium rights were sold at the base price.
There are other twists in the India-Pakistan cricketing saga. Pakistani fans do not know which TV channel will broadcast the tournament, because the official media rights for Pakistan have not yet been sold. The SPNI is asking for $12 million, which local broadcasters are negotiating to be lowered in an unpromising advertising market. However, it is understood that the digital rights for Pakistan have been finalized, with an announcement expected soon.
Another twist has been created in the World Legends Championship underway in England. The Indian team and Indian tournament sponsor, EaseMyTrip, withdrew its support for the group stage match between India and Pakistan on July 20.
Now, fate has decreed that the two teams face each other in a semifinal of the tournament on July 31, except they will not, as India has withdrawn again, less than 24 hours before the scheduled start time. The sponsor also reiterated it would not be involved with the match.
Although this tournament is not under the authority of the BCCI, the Indian team and sponsor's attitudes do seem to have captured the mood in India. Once again, just when it seemed that an acceptable balance had been achieved in agreeing to the 2025 Asia Cup going ahead, a new flashpoint has been triggered to raise fresh doubts.
There will be severe ramifications for Asian cricket should the Indian team be either partly or wholly withdrawn from the Asia Cup.