PCB chairman sends letter to BCCI regarding Asia Cup: Report

Team India's participation in the 2025 Asia Cup is still in doubt with just less than two months left for the tournament’s scheduled start. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet confirmed or denied the national team's presence in the continent-wide tournament. While speculation builds, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), it appears, has contacted the BCCI about increasing concerns expressed by broadcasters and sponsors over the delay in confirmation.

According to a report in the Times Now, the ACC said that the delay in confirmation is upsetting commercial planning. "We have been informed that in the absence of this information, their ability to plan effectively, allocate resources, and execute their campaigns is significantly constrained. In addition, to highlighting the challenges being faced by them, the media rights partner has highlighted obligations under the Agreement which commence 60 and 90 days prior to the commencement of the 2025 Tournament. Our sponsorship rights partner, TCM, has outlined the commercial concerns associated, particularly in terms of timelines required for effective monetization and activation planning," the letter stated.

Furthermore, the ACC emphasized the urgency, stressing that further delays may result in commercial losses. "In addition, given the proximity of other major ICC and international events, both Sony and TCM have raised concerns that further delays could result in missed commercial opportunities that may not be recoverable due to existing scheduling and lead-time limitations. In light of this, and importantly, with fixtures for other major tournaments now confirmed, we are hoping to alleviate the concerns of our rights holders and finalize the Asia Cup fixtures within this week. This is especially important for the ACC as the Men's Asia Cup is the main source of income for the organization. We believe that further delays may pose the risk of our partners claiming breaches of Agreement and seeking discounts," the ACC wrote.

Pressure Mounts on BCCI to Clarify Stand

The ACC’s formal communication could prompt a response from the BCCI as early as next week. While a promo for the Asia Cup did air during the broadcast of the first Test between India and England, it notably lacked any mention of match dates or venues, further fueling speculation.

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The ACC is currently being taken over by Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, who replaced former BCCI secretary Jay Shah—now the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). As pressure from commerce grows and with the tournament just around the corner, the question hangs in the balance for a definite pronouncement by BCCI.