The future of the upcoming Asia Cup has become increasingly uncertain as both India and Sri Lanka have declined to attend a crucial Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting scheduled for July 24 in Dhaka. Their decision stems from ongoing political tensions with the host nation, Bangladesh.
India has already postponed a planned tour of Bangladesh from August this year to September next year. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cited international scheduling commitments as the reason, political friction between New Delhi and Dhaka appears to be a significant factor.
Despite the absences, ACC sources confirmed the meeting will proceed as planned.
We’ve provided a 15-day window for all member countries to finalize their arrangements. If any member chooses not to attend in person, online participation is available. The meeting will take place in Dhaka.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are currently set to play a T20I tri-series from July 20–24, prompting the ACC to hold the meeting concurrently in Dhaka. The council also noted that Bangladesh has not hosted an ACC meeting for some time.
India is scheduled to host the Asia Cup starting September 5, but the BCCI is expected to request a change of venue due to an existing agreement that prevents Pakistan from touring India.
This agreement followed India’s refusal to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year. As a compromise, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to move India’s matches to Dubai, on the condition that Pakistan would not send its team to India for any multinational tournament until 2027.
The ACC has sent a formal letter to the BCCI asking whether India still intends to host the event. A response is still pending.
The Asia Cup has often been disrupted by political issues between India and Pakistan. In 1986, India boycotted the tournament due to strained relations with Sri Lanka. Pakistan, in turn, skipped the 1990 edition hosted by India. The 2023 tournament was also affected, held under a hybrid model: India played its matches in Sri Lanka, while the remaining fixtures were held in Pakistan.
