BCCI dismiss rumors of requesting separate groups for India-Pakistan matches

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has denied reports suggesting it asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to place India and Pakistan in separate groups in future global tournaments. 

The rumors surfaced after the recent Pahalgam attack and sparked a wave of speculation. However, BCCI officials have called the claims baseless. Vice-President Rajeev Shukla made it clear that any decisions regarding matches with Pakistan would be made in consultation with the Indian government.

Sources within the BCCI also confirmed that no official communication has been sent to the ICC about changing group structures.

While India-Pakistan cricket ties remain sensitive, there are no plans at the moment to alter how teams are grouped in international tournaments.

Looking ahead, there are no ICC events scheduled until the Women's ODI World Cup in September-October 2025. The tournament will be held in India and will feature eight teams, including Pakistan. Since the format is round-robin, each team will face every other team, making group allocation unnecessary.

Matches involving Pakistan are likely to be held at a neutral venue. Although India is the host, the BCCI will decide the specific venues, and that decision is still pending.

Before the Women’s World Cup, attention will turn to the men’s Asia Cup, expected to take place in September. India holds the hosting rights, but the tournament will be played at a neutral venue due to political tensions. The final host country has not been confirmed yet, though the UAE and Sri Lanka are being considered.

The Asia Cup is also shaped by commercial interests. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has signed a $170 million media rights deal for four editions of the tournament. This deal includes an informal agreement to ensure at least two India-Pakistan matches in each edition, with a possible third if both teams reach the final. The 2025 edition is expected to bring in around $38 million in revenue.

In the 2023 Asia Cup, India and Pakistan were in the same group and met twice. The group-stage match was washed out. Pakistan did not qualify for the final, while India went on to win the tournament after defeating Sri Lanka in a one-sided final.

An official announcement regarding the host country and tournament draw for the upcoming Asia Cup is still awaited, though it was initially expected in May.