BCCI Threatens to Boycott Asia Cup Over Dhaka Meeting Venue

The future of the 2025 Asia Cup is hanging by a thread as the BCCI gears up to skip an upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, which is currently set to take place in Dhaka on July 24. India’s cricket board has taken a firm stance, making it clear that it won’t send any representatives to Bangladesh amid ongoing political and diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

At the heart of the issue is ACC Chairman and PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi’s insistence on holding the meeting in Dhaka. BCCI officials reportedly reached out to him directly, informing him of their discomfort with the location, but have yet to receive any response. The board has made it clear: if the venue isn't changed, they won't be showing up. 

This isn’t just about India alone. The BCCI has the backing of Sri Lanka Cricket, the Afghanistan Cricket Board, and the Oman Cricket Board. All three are expected to skip the meeting as well if India pulls out. With key stakeholders opting out, the ACC’s ability to take valid decisions at the meeting could be compromised entirely, per the council’s constitution. That could spell serious trouble for the Asia Cup. 

The tournament, which India is scheduled to host, is set to begin on September 5, with the final penciled in for September 21. But with tensions rising not just between India and Bangladesh, but also between India and Pakistan, the entire event is now in limbo. In fact, things have already started to shift. India’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh, originally scheduled for August, has been postponed to 2026. Though the BCCI didn’t give an official reason, it clearly signals that all is not well between the two cricketing neighbours. 

A report from India Today confirms that BCCI has officially informed both the ACC and Mohsin Naqvi that they will not attend any meeting in Dhaka. The absence of India, and likely a few others, could render any conclusions from the meeting null and void. With only a few days left before the scheduled date, the ACC has yet to announce any change in venue. That silence is only adding to the uncertainty. If things don’t shift soon, the Asia Cup could face cancellation—something that seemed unthinkable just weeks ago. 

The UAE has quietly emerged as a potential alternative host for the meeting, and perhaps even the tournament itself. Given the tense history between India and Pakistan, many believe a neutral venue might be the best solution—one that avoids political complications derailing the competition. This wouldn’t be the first time politics has interrupted the Asia Cup. India boycotted the 1986 edition due to disagreements with Sri Lanka, while Pakistan chose not to play in the 1990 edition hosted by India. Even last year, the 2023 Asia Cup had to adopt a hybrid format with India playing in Sri Lanka and the rest of the games happening in Pakistan. 

India remains the most successful team in the tournament’s history, with eight titles—seven in ODIs and one in T20s. Sri Lanka has six titles, and Pakistan two. Whether a ninth title shot awaits India this year now depends on what happens over the next few crucial days.