MUMBAI: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has denied the report that the BCCI has decided to pull out of all tournaments organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to isolate Pakistan, following the escalating cross-border tensions between the two neighbouring countries.In a statement to TOI on Monday, Saikia said, “Since this morning, it has come to our notice about some news items about BCCI’s decision not to participate in the Asia Cup and Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both ACC’s events. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Such news are devoid of any truth as till now, the BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding ensuing ACC events, leave alone writing anything to the ACC. At this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and subsequent England series, both men and women.”
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“The Asia Cup matter or any other ACC event issue has not come up for discussion at any level, hence any news or report on that is purely speculative and imaginary. It may be said that the BCCI, as and when any discussion on any ACC events takes place and any important decision is reached, the same will be announced through the media,” Saikia added.According to reports, the BCCI has already informed the ACC about its decision to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled to be held next month in Sri Lanka, and from the Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled for September, where India is the host nation. The reports cited that one of the key reasons behind the move is that the ACC is currently headed by Mohsin Naqvi, who is not only the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, but also the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government.
India is supposed to host the Asia Cup in Sept, but the tournament could be under a huge cloud if India pulls out of it. It is to be noted that the event will barely have any significance without an India-Pakistan game. In 2024, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) secured a US$ 170 million deal for media rights for the next eight years for the Asia Cup.
