Karachi – The fate of the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament, scheduled for September, hangs in the balance as tensions rise within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). A decisive meeting is expected to take place on Thursday in Dhaka, but Indian lobbying efforts appear to be intensifying to derail the event, potentially causing Pakistan over Rs 1.16 billion in financial losses.

Sources close to the matter reveal that the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) is actively working to ensure the tournament does not go ahead. By doing so, India aims to weaken Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s standing as ACC President, especially after Pakistan’s recent cricketing success. India’s efforts are reportedly being supported by Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, both of which have been aligning with Indian interests within the ACC.

The upcoming meeting in Dhaka, to be chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, is crucial for deciding the Asia Cup’s future, including finalizing its schedule and host nation. Despite India being the designated host, uncertainty surrounds its participation in the meeting. India has expressed dissatisfaction over the meeting being held in Dhaka and is reportedly pushing for a change in venue.

Under the ACC constitution, at least three full-member Test-playing nations must attend for the meeting to be valid. In addition, a minimum of 10 full or associate member countries need to be present to meet the quorum. However, foreign media reports suggest that India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are opposing the Dhaka venue, making the required quorum difficult to achieve.

Reports further allege that during a recent visit to Kabul, Mohsin Naqvi, in his capacity as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, attempted to gain Afghanistan’s support for the Dhaka meeting. However, Afghanistan — which has had a close cricketing alliance with India for several years — appears to be siding with India. Afghanistan’s home ground has even been in India’s Dehradun, and its cricket board has reportedly assured India of support regarding the Asia Cup meeting.

This issue has now escalated into a broader geopolitical conflict, with the Dhaka meeting becoming a flashpoint. India is threatening to boycott the Asia Cup if the meeting venue is not changed. The final decision regarding the Asia Cup’s fate will be made at this gathering.

To strengthen PCB’s representation in the ACC, Mohsin Naqvi has appointed former Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer as a member of the ACC Executive Board. Naseer is currently in Dhaka overseeing PCB’s interests and participating in the preparations for the meeting.

Indian media has claimed that if the Asia Cup is canceled, it would result in a significant financial blow to Pakistan. According to estimates, PCB stands to lose Rs 1.16 billion (equivalent to 348 million Indian rupees) in potential earnings from the Asia Cup alone. In total, PCB had projected revenues of around Rs 8.8 billion (264 crore INR) for the year from international tournaments including the ICC events. A senior PCB source reportedly confirmed that the board had already allocated $25.9 million (approximately Rs 7.5 billion) from the ICC’s annual disbursement, which is critical for meeting its yearly operational expenses.

Despite these claims, PCB has chosen not to officially respond to the Indian media narrative. A board spokesperson stated, “We do not respond to Indian propaganda.” However, it is worth noting that just a week ago, India’s own Sports Minister said the Indian cricket team could participate in the Asia Cup, contradicting the current resistance against the Dhaka meeting.

The broader context reveals a pattern of recent hostility from the Indian side. Merely three days ago, during the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham, India refused to play a scheduled match against Pakistan’s champion team. The match was ultimately canceled due to India’s withdrawal, signaling the Indian cricket board’s current unwillingness to engage with Pakistan even in neutral venues.

Additionally, reports confirm that India has neither agreed to send its representative to Dhaka nor has it shown willingness to participate in the meeting virtually via video link. This reluctance further jeopardizes the legal standing of the meeting and delays key decisions regarding the Asia Cup.

Observers believe that India is strategically leveraging its influence within the ACC to isolate Pakistan and damage its cricketing and financial standing. Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Oman, and a few other associate member boards have reportedly also resisted traveling to Dhaka, further complicating matters for the PCB.

With such high stakes involved — both financially and politically — the coming days will be crucial not just for Pakistan cricket, but for the unity and credibility of the ACC itself. If the quorum is not met and the meeting fails to proceed legally, the future of the 2025 Asia Cup remains highly uncertain.