BCCI may boycott ACC meet in Dhaka
The standoff, centred on the venue of the ACC meet, threatens to trigger a governance crisis within the ACC and casts serious doubt over the fate of the Asia Cup, scheduled for September in the UAE.
Media reports indicate that the BCCI, backed by Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, is strongly opposed to holding the AGM in Dhaka under the chairmanship of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi. The Indian board has insisted that a neutral venue be considered, failing which it may not only boycott the AGM but also the Asia Cup itself.
This move has turned a routine administrative meeting into a major flashpoint in cricket geopolitics. The BCCI, as the designated host of the Asia Cup, is unlikely to be severely impacted by Pakistan's absence. However, a potential Indian pullout could cripple the tournament's commercial and broadcast viability, posing a severe challenge for the ACC.
The legitimacy of the ACC AGM is also in question. As per ACC's constitution, a quorum requires the participation of at least three out of five permanent (Test-playing) members - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. With India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan reportedly skipping the Dhaka meeting, the quorum will be incomplete.
Further complications arise from the requirement that at least ten full or Associate members attend. But uncertainty looms over the participation of countries like Oman, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, and Indonesia, making it unlikely the quorum threshold will be met.
At the heart of the crisis is PCB Chairman and ACC President Naqvi's firm stance on Dhaka as the host city. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, was in Kabul over the weekend in an effort to gain Afghanistan's support. However, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) reportedly assured India that they would not attend the Dhaka meeting.
India's firm stance is also driven by recent diplomatic tensions with Pakistan. The BCCI had earlier cancelled a six-match white-ball series scheduled for next month, citing political sensitivities. This growing strain is now spilling over into multilateral platforms like the ACC.
Caught in the middle is the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which agreed to host the AGM at Pakistan's request. Publicly, the BCB has maintained that it is an internal matter for the ACC. However, insiders say the interim BCB chief Aminul Islam may have underestimated the implications.
The developments in Dhaka have also revived memories of a recent incident in Birmingham, where Indian cricket legends refused to play a veterans' match against Pakistan due to the presence of Shahid Afridi, underscoring how cricket continues to reflect diplomatic undercurrents.
As the clock ticks down to the Dhaka meeting, uncertainty clouds both the AGM and the Asia Cup. Whether diplomacy or defiance wins out in the coming days could shape the future of Asian cricket in more ways than one. UNI BDN SSP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 minutes ago
- First Post
Zero-duty access to jobs: India-UK Free Trade Agreement in 10 simple points
Under the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), up to 95% of agricultural products and processed foods will be traded duty-free. Dairy products, edible oils and apples, however, have been exempted. The FTA will also make it easier for Indian professionals to move to the UK. Here we explain the India-UK FTA in 10 points. read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets British PM Sir Keir Starmer at the Chequers in England on Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Photo: X/Narendra Modi) Under the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed on Thursday, up to 95 per cent of agricultural products and processed foods have been added to the zero-duty category whereas certain sectors sensitive to India have been excluded from the category. Overall, the trade deal secures unprecedented duty-free access for 99 per cent of India's exports to the United Kingdom, covering nearly the entire trade basket, the Union commerce ministry said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here are 10 key features of the India-UK trade deal — from duty-free access to goods to easier mobility of professionals. 1. Farmers to get preferential access to UK markets Indian farmers will get preferential access to the UK's $35 billion agricultural market. Overall, more than 95 per cent of agricultural products and processed food products will attract zero duties, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, pickles, spice mixes, fruit pulps, and ready-to-eat meals and processed foods. This will boost India's export and enhancing income of domestic farmers. 2. India protects sensitive sectors Despite the duty-free trade of such products, India has secured the exclusion of sensitive sectors like dairy, vegetables, apples, cooking oils, and oats, to protect the interest of Indian farmers and traders by preventing the influx of cheaper imports. 3. Big catch for Indian fishermen The India-UK trade deal has opened the $5.4 billion UK market for marine exports as the UK import duty on marine products will fall to 0 from up to 20 per cent. 4. Boost for job creation The India-UK trade deal has given a competitive edge to Indian labour-intensive industries in the UK, giving them more employment-generation opportunities. 'CETA [Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement] secures unprecedented duty-free access for 99 per cent of India's exports to the UK, covering nearly the entire trade basket. This is expected to open new opportunities for labour-intensive industries such as textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods, toys, and gems and jewellery, alongside fast-growing sectors like engineering goods, auto components, and organic chemicals,' the Union commerce ministry said. 5. Zero duty on major sectors Duties have been brought down to 0 per cent on several major Indian sectors, such as textiles (down from 12 per cent), base metals (from 10 per cent), and chemicals (from 8 per cent). 6. Gains for rural India As most of the processed food products have been brought under a zero-duty regime from 70 per cent duties, rural Indian producers and exporters of that produce are set to get a boost. 7. Double Contribution Convention (DCC) to exempt workers and employers from social security contribution for three years. This will benefit 75,000 Indian workers in the UK. 8. Indian professionals will get better mobility access to the UK. 9. Up to 1,800 Indian chefs, yoga instructors, and classical musicians can move temporarily to UK to provide services. 10. More opportunities for India's services sector The India-UK trade deal will provide better opportunities to India's services sector. 'The agreement provides greater market access in IT and IT-enabled services, financial and legal services, professional and educational services, and digital trade. Indian professionals, including those deployed by companies to work in UK across all services sectors, professionals deployed on contracts such as architects, engineers, chefs, yoga instructors, and musicians, will benefit from simplified visa procedures and liberalised entry categories, making it easier for talent to work in the UK,' the Union commerce ministry said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
4 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Looking For High-Scoring Partnership': Modi Bats For Youth, Farmers, MSMEs & Global Trade
India and the United Kingdom have signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that promises to double bilateral trade, unlock new markets for Indian exports, and make UK products more affordable in India. Signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds, the deal was sealed in the presence of PM Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer. Modi called the moment 'historic,' comparing India-UK ties to a cricket match played with a straight bat. From Indian textiles and engineering goods to UK whisky and medical devices, the FTA aims to benefit both nations, but especially India's youth, farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs. This deal puts India on a stronger global footing, showing that even amid turbulent global trade dynamics, Delhi is batting with vision, confidence, and purpose. Watch how India's 'Vision 2035' is turning trade into transformation.#pmmodi #narendramodi #indiaukdeal #modistarmer #modiukvisit #modistarmermeeting #modicrickettalk #cricket #modicricketanalogy #cricketanalogy #fta #indiauktarde #freetradeagreement #brexitindia #globaltrade #newchapter #indiaeconomy #ukindiarelations #modidiplomacy #keirstarmer #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More
The Hindu
4 minutes ago
- The Hindu
IOA EC puts up an united front, insists on working together in push for 2036 Olympics
The Indian Olympic Association put up a united front on Thursday with the entire Executive Council appearing together in public for the first time in almost 18 months, confirming the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as the CEO, and setting up a panel to tackle doping. Raghuram's appointment by Usha in January 2024 at a salary of Rs. 20 lakh per month and other perks had been the biggest bone of contention between IOA president P.T. Usha and other members and had remained unratified. A majority of EC members had even brought in a no-confidence motion against Usha last year before it was dropped. Officially titled 'Powering India's Sporting Aspirations: IOA's Vision 2036' there was no denying the meet was primarily to affirm truce within the IOA. No AGM had been held since March 2023 and a stormy EC meeting in September 2024 had failed to break the impasse. Raghuram, who was also present on the occasion, had continued to discharge his duties and was also part of the Indian delegation to meet IOC in Lausanne last month. 'Everything is sorted and that is why he is sitting here with me. Everything is ratified,' Usha declared, 'Raghu Iyer is the CEO of IOA,' AIFF president Kalyan Choubey insisted and IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav, one of Usha's most vocal opponents, said, 'It's like small bickering and we are back and happy to be together.' The beginning of the end of the deadlock had begun with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya holding informal meetings with Usha and EC members and trying to get them to negotiate. The IOA visit to Lausanne as part of India's bid for the 2036 Olympics, which included ministry officials, and IOC feedback further helped bring about a rapprochement. 'We are focused on our long-term goal of transforming India into a sporting powerhouse. It's part of our resolve to power through India's sporting aspirations via Mission 2036,' Usha said, adding that the IOA was committed to inclusivity and gender parity in Indian sport. 'We are equally committed to making sports an inclusive space for women, young athletes, those from tribal areas and every Indian who dreams of sporting excellence,' she said. On the new Sports Bill, Choubey said that 'it clearly mentions that the government has brought some guidelines and it is not to interfere. If there is any conflict, the rules of the international body will prevail. Idea is not to create any confrontation or confusion, the idea is to work together.' The seven-member anti-doping panel, meanwhile, will be headed by India's Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal after India's poor record was flagged by the IOC.
