Big Question Marks Against Asian Cricket Council And Asia Cup

The cricket world in Asia could be altogether disrupted should India (BCCI) mull over not to take part in this year’s men’s Asia Cup. No one is even talking of the host venue yet, not even a hybrid model to facilitate the participation of India and Pakistan. Pundits have gone to the extent of saying that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of which Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi is the Chair may plunge itself into a crisis for there is not even a remote chance of a solution. Naqvi’s predecessor was the BCCI’s Jay Shah, now the ICC Chair. The consequences of the Pahalgam terror attack on Indians will throw a monkey wrench into the works and observers seem to have seen hints of India boycotting the Asia Cup. The ACC was formed in 1983 by Jagmohan Dalmiya to keep the Asian bloc (read votes) together at the ICC meetings. India has won the Asia Cup eight times — with the tournament format alternating from 50 overs or Twenty20 depending upon the next format of the ICC World Cup — but taking part and winning the title will not be a paramountcy for the BCCI which will just go by what the Union government tells it to do. India and Pakistan have boycotted Asia Cup competitions in the past and India did not go to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy recently. But questions are being asked whether India will agree to be part of an ACC under the leadership of Naqvi who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister; he did not attend a recent ICC meeting chaired by Shah in Dubai, and the BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar may just do the same leading to a Domino Effect.