By Zainab Shafiq 
With regional hostility overshadowing the cricket calendar, India skips Asia Cup 2025 in a significant political statement cloaked in sporting terms. The decision, which includes stepping away from both playing and hosting responsibilities, comes as military and diplomatic tensions with Pakistan escalate. According to top sources, the BCCI has already communicated its stance to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), led by Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi, signaling a likely cancellation of the men’s event scheduled for September.
The Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, due next month in Sri Lanka, has already been scrapped, becoming the first sporting casualty of the renewed Indo-Pakistan standoff. As India skips Asia Cup 2025 headlines dominating cricket chatter, the bigger fallout might be economic, especially for the ACC.
Broadcast blues and financial fallout as India skips Asia Cup
India’s exit creates a massive vacuum in both audience and advertising potential. The Asia Cup’s financial lifeblood largely stems from Indian sponsors and viewers. With Sony Pictures Networks India having shelled out $170 million for rights through 2032, the tournament without its biggest drawcard. And the marquee India-Pakistan clashes offer little commercial promise.
The scheduled 19-day window in September was meant to serve as a prelude to the 2026 T20 World Cup, featuring five teams including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. However, with India skipping Asia Cup 2025 again, and no neutral venue arrangement in place, the event’s viability is now in serious doubt.
This isn’t the first time cricket has bent under geopolitical pressure. In 2023, India refused to cross the border for Asia Cup matches, pushing for a hybrid model that kept their games in Sri Lanka. The 2024 ICC Champions Trophy followed suit, with India’s fixtures shifted to Dubai. That pattern now seems policy, not exception.
While the ACC is yet to announce a final decision, all signs point to cancellation, and with Naqvi as current chair, Pakistan will likely bear the brunt of the financial loss.
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