The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that it will not send delegates to the coming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting if it happens in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 24. This is a result of disputes over the political climate in Bangladesh, which the BCCI believes is dangerous or not suitable for its officials to visit.
In accordance with reports released by the Times of India, BCCI has already formally expressed its concerns to the ACC and has asked for a change in the meeting venue. In case the ACC still insists on the meeting being held in Dhaka, BCCI is ready to give it a skip.
A top BCCI official noted, “We have communicated to the ACC that we are not willing to depute our office bearers to Dhaka. All in the ACC know the geopolitics of the subcontinent. Convening such a crucial meeting in Dhaka under these circumstances is rather insensitive.”
It is not the first time concerns of the BCCI have been over concerns in Bangladesh. The board had previously delayed a planned cricket series in Bangladesh this August due to political reasons.
Asia Cup 2025 Host Uncertain
India is officially scheduled to host this year’s Asia Cup, which is expected to start on September 5 in the T20 format. But in a continuing bout of tensions, particularly with Pakistan, together with regional instability, the venue of the tournament has been thrown into doubt. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) with facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah has come up as a robust replacement for Bangladesh.
An insider revealed, “The UAE was nearly settled as the destination before the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The larger question now is if India will agree to play Pakistan at all. While the Indian government did grant permission to a recent Pakistani hockey team, cricket is still a touchy subject, and the decision is still pending.”
The official went on to warn further, “If the ACC does not take care of these issues, the BCCI may even withdraw from the Asia Cup.”
Alternatives to Keep India’s Cricket Calendar Busy
Even though the BCCI cancelled the tour to Bangladesh, it does not want a lengthy layoff for India in the middle of two or three months without international cricket. With that in mind, a few cricket boards like Sri Lanka and England have volunteered to receive India during this time.
The BCCI is seriously considering these proposals and is even thinking about staging an alternative tournament if the Asia Cup is unable to go through as scheduled.
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