Not long after a standoff at the border, India and Pakistan are locked in another conflict over the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister and ACC’s President, wants the ACC AGM in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 24 and 25. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the most powerful board in cricket, wants the ACC AGM in a different venue.
The BCCI has threatened to pull out of the AGM if the ACC, headed by the PCB chief, does not shift the venue. However, there is no cricketing reason. Instead, the reason is political. With India locked in diplomatic tensions with Pakistan and Bangladesh, cricket is the one taking the hit. As things stand, the ACC AGM, if it goes ahead as scheduled, could be invalid. Furthermore, if the meeting goes ahead in Dhaka, BCCI might pull the plug on Asia Cup 2025 participation. BCCI has already postponed the white-ball series against Bangladesh scheduled for August.
Why ACC AGM could be invalid?
The ACC needs at least three permanent members to reach a quorum. While the PCB has found backing in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the BCCI has support from Sri Lanka Cricket and the Afghanistan Cricket Board. In addition, an ACC AGM needs at least 10 associate members. But PCB hasn’t received that support yet. That tilts the situation in favour of BCCI.
ACC President Mohsin Naqvi even used his state visit to Kabul to woo ACB after missing the ICC AGM in Singapore. However, as per a Cricbuzz report, Afghanistan has pledged support to the BCCI in this matter. Hence, even if the ACC AGM goes on without the BCCI, it would not be able to reach a quorum.
BCB could have avoided the entire saga had it not played into PCB’s hands. Aminul Islam, the interim head of the BCB, ignored advice and accepted Naqvi’s offer to host the ACC AGM.
“It now seems the event has turned into a geopolitical matter. Aminul could have handled the situation more carefully when approached by the PCB president to host the meeting. I think he could have taken more time because, in situations like this, taking time is part of the game. Probably due to inexperience, he agreed to host it without fully understanding the geopolitical implications,” a BCB source told Cricbuzz.
Future of Asia Cup 2025 bleak
The ACC AGM was supposed to break the ice of the Asia Cup 2025. However, if the AGM does not go ahead and BCCI and PCB continue their standoff, Asia Cup could be postponed indefinitely. With no window after September, the tournament could be scrapped.
Furthermore, if the Asia Cup is cancelled, it would put Sony under pressure. Sony bought the ACC broadcast rights for $170 million for 2024-2031 period.
The PCB could also lose out on crores if the Asia Cup does not go ahead. PCB has set aside Rs 116 crore from the Asia Cup.
“The revenues from these two major sources (ICC and Asia Cup) is very important for the financial health of Pakistan cricket,” PTI quoted a source.
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