BCB in tight spot, PCB faces financial loss as Asia Cup fate remains unclear

The future of the 2025 Asia Cup T20 remains uncertain amid a growing power struggle within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), with the upcoming AGM—scheduled for 24–25 July in Dhaka—now in serious doubt due to escalating geopolitical tensions and boardroom discord.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which currently holds the ACC chairmanship under Mohsin Naqvi, is relying heavily on revenue from the tournament—estimated at PKR 1.16 billion—as part of its projected total income of PKR 8.8 billion for the current financial year.

While a significant portion of this income is expected from ICC distributions, the Asia Cup is a crucial element in the PCB's financial planning.

However, the Dhaka meeting is under threat after India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan expressed reluctance to attend, casting serious doubts over the quorum. For the AGM to proceed in accordance with ACC regulations, a minimum of three Test-playing nations and ten full or associate members must be present.

PCB CEO Sumair Ahmed, who represented the board at the recent ICC Annual Conference in Singapore, reportedly faced resistance from most of the major cricket boards while seeking support for the Dhaka meeting. The BCCI remains firmly opposed to the chosen venue, advocating instead for a neutral location—an idea also supported by Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Caught in the crossfire is the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which had agreed to host the meeting at short notice. Although the BCB has maintained publicly that the issue rests with the ACC, insiders have admitted that the decision to host may have been made too hastily.

"It now seems the event has taken on a geopolitical dimension," a BCB source told Cricbuzz. "Aminul [Islam Bulbul, BCB president] could have handled the matter more cautiously when approached by the PCB chairman. He probably should have taken more time—delays are sometimes strategic in these matters. Perhaps due to inexperience, he agreed to host it without fully grasping the geopolitical implications."

Another official added: "Bulbul was requested to cancel the meeting, as some board directors were not willing to risk upsetting the BCCI. However, he insisted that he had given his word and could not withdraw."

Meanwhile, ACC chairman Naqvi reportedly skipped the ICC Conference in Singapore and instead travelled to Kabul in an effort to secure Afghanistan's support. As of Monday (21 July), however, the Afghanistan Cricket Board is believed to have aligned with India's position and is also unlikely to send representatives to Dhaka.

Should the AGM fail to take place—or be declared invalid—it could throw the Asia Cup, currently scheduled for 10–28 September in the UAE, into serious jeopardy.

While the BCCI, as the designated host, may still proceed with the tournament—with or without Pakistan—this ongoing standoff threatens to derail crucial commercial and logistical preparations.

With only days remaining, the Dhaka meeting has become the focal point of a broader struggle between cricketing powerhouses, and its outcome may well determine the shape of Asian cricket for the rest of the year.