Latest news with #Naqvi
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Asia Cup 2025: India, Pakistan likely to be in same group; BCCI to announce schedule
India's Rohit Sharma and Pakistan's Babar Azam in a file photo. Mumbai: India and Pakistan are likely to be drawn into the same group for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in UAE, TOI has learnt. With the BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, who is the BCCI's representative in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), attending the ACC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka virtually on Thursday, all hurdles have now been cleared for the much-anticipated continental T20 tournament, which had been thrown into uncertainty following the terror attack in Pahalgam. "It has been decided that the Asia Cup will be held. Shukla and Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi are scheduled to meet in the coming days to finalise the venues and the tournament schedule. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "Being the designated hosts, the BCCI is likely to announce the schedule of the tournament in the next few days," a reliable source told TOI. Shukla and Naqvi will also engage with sponsors at the earliest opportunity, aiming to allow sufficient time for commercial planning. After the ACC meeting in Dhaka, Naqvi said all the 25 members attended the AGM - some joined virtually. "The meeting was attended by all 25 members. The BCCI will inform us about the Asia Cup in a few days," he told reporters. The Asia Cup clash in September will be the first time that there will be an India versus Pakistan clash on the cricket field since tensions heightened in April-May between the two neighbours, following the Pahalgam attack on April 22 with India launching 'Operation Sindoor' on Pakistan. "The BCCI is in touch with the Indian government for permission to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup," the source said. Despite the BCCI being the official hosts of the tournament, it will be played in UAE, as the ACC had decided to host the Asia Cup in a neutral country when it was either India or Pakistan's turn to be official hosts. According to the source, the BCCI is willing to host the tournament at a neutral venue, identifying Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the likely locations. "The BCCI has signed a deal with the Emirates Cricket Board for three venues, but only two will be used for the Asia Cup," he said. The BCCI has proposed a tentative window from the third or fourth week of September for the tournament, which will act as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup, set to be held in February in India and Sri Lanka next year. Eight teams are set to participate in the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup. "The budget of the Asia Cup, as well as six other ACC tournaments this year, was passed in the AGM today. The election was deferred, while the AGM was adjourned. It will be continued at a later date," a source said. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Asia Cup decision expected soon as ACC chief Naqvi confirms ongoing talks with India
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are ongoing and expressed confidence that all matters related to the 2025 Asia Cup will be resolved soon. Speaking to the media following the conclusion of the ACC's Annual General Meeting in Dhaka, Naqvi thanked all 25 member nations for their participation and praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for hosting the event. 'These two days were truly memorable. The environment was positive and constructive. No one wants politics; we are all here to work for cricket,' Naqvi said. 'A decision regarding the Asia Cup will be made soon. It's a team effort, and we will continue to hold such meetings.' While the format and venue for the 2025 Asia Cup have not yet been officially confirmed, sources suggest the tournament is likely to go ahead in September as scheduled, with the United Arab Emirates emerging as a potential neutral host. The Asia Cup is expected to be held in the T20 format as a build-up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in early 2026. BCCI attends ACC meeting virtually amid tensions In a significant late development, the BCCI chose to participate in the ACC Annual General Meeting virtually, reversing its earlier position amid ongoing political tensions in the region. Indian media had previously reported that the board might skip the meeting due to strained diplomatic ties with Bangladesh and Pakistan. The meeting, chaired by ACC chief and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, was held at a Dhaka hotel and began at 1pm Pakistan Standard Time. According to ACC officials, all of the council's 25 members confirmed their participation, with several, including India, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, joining via video link. India currently holds the official hosting rights for the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup. However, given the sensitivities involved, particularly following heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan in May, hosting the event in the UAE has been floated as a compromise. The Indian media even reported last month that the board had decided to pull out of the tournament - a rumour soon rejected by the BCCI officials. Both the BCCI and PCB have historically opposed playing bilateral matches on each other's soil, leading to last year's Asia Cup being played under a hybrid model. That precedent may inform the final decision for this year's tournament. Naqvi acknowledged the challenges of coordinating attendance for such high-level meetings, noting, 'Some couldn't travel to Dhaka due to scheduling issues, just like I couldn't go to Singapore once. The important thing is, all members were present and engaged.' He added that discussions with the Bangladesh board on other cricket-related matters were also ongoing and 'fruitful.' An official announcement regarding the 2025 Asia Cup is expected in the coming days.
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
BCCI attends ACC meeting virtually amid regional tensions; Asia Cup venue likely to shift
In a late reversal, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to participate in the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) Annual General Meeting, opting to join virtually amid regional tensions, Indian media reported on Thursday. The crucial meeting, scheduled for today in Dhaka under the chairmanship of ACC President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, is set to decide the fate of the 2025 Asia Cup. India is officially listed as the host of the tournament, which is expected to be held in the T20 format ahead of the ICC World T20 later this year. Initially, the BCCI had indicated it would boycott the AGM due to strained diplomatic ties with Bangladesh. However, the Hindustan Times reported, quoting sources, that the board had reconsidered and will now attend the meeting online. The meeting comes in the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following their military skirmish in May. Both cricket boards have been reluctant to play on each other's soil, as seen during last year's ICC events, which were played under a hybrid model. With such political sensitivities in play, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as the likely neutral venue for the 2025 Asia Cup, despite India retaining official hosting rights. Sri Lanka Cricket and the Afghanistan Cricket Board, which had earlier aligned with the BCCI and indicated they would skip the meeting, are also expected to join virtually following India's shift in position. The meeting, which began at 1pm Pakistan Standard Time, is currently underway at a hotel in Dhaka. As per the media reports, the quorum is nearly complete, with 24 of the ACC's 25 members confirming participation. Naqvi arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday and was received by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Mohammad Aminul Islam.
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First Post
9 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Asia Cup 2025 meeting to go ahead as planned after BCCI reportedly makes U-turn
After much uncertainty and a reported initial boycott by the BCCI, it is now being said that the Indian cricket board has agreed to attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting virtually, where the Asia Cup 2025 could be finalised. read more In a late twist, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will take place in Dhaka on July 24 and 25, after initially threatening to boycott the meeting over the venue selection. The ACC is currently chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) head Mohsin Naqvi, and the BCCI was seen as unwilling to participate in a meeting in Bangladesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the ACC AGM is expected to take a final call on the Asia Cup 2025, the future of which has looked uncertain since the Pahalgam terror attack, BCCI reportedly did not want to attend a meeting in Dhaka due to worsening relations between India and Bangladesh. The BCCI also recently postponed Team India's white-ball tour to Bangladesh from August 2025 to next year. More from First Cricket India insert healthy dollop of chaos on throwback day of Test cricket at Old Trafford BCCI to attend Asia Cup meeting virtually It was also reported that the boards of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were ready to boycott the Dhaka meeting in support of the BCCI, but in a late twist on Wednesday, the Indian cricket board decided to attend the ACC AGM, albeit virtually. 'Yes, we have decided to attend the meeting virtually,' a BCCI source told Hindustan Times. Another BCCI source confirmed the same to the newspaper The Hindu, ' BCCI will act as a big brother and attend the tournament virtually,' he said. As per media reports, BCCI tried to make countries like Afghanistan and Oman skip the ACC AGM, which would have resulted in a l ack of a quorum at the meeting, but Naqvi ensured that wasn't an issue after meeting other boards. This should be seen as a big win for the PCB as they have managed to bring together enough boards needed as per the ACC constitution for a meeting to be held legally. As per a report in Cricbuzz, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan Super League (PSL) CEO Salman Naseer have already arrived in Dhaka for the meeting along with other ACC members. The officials from the Afghanistan board are expected to arrive on 24 July. The ACC AGM will start at 2 PM local time (1.30 PM IST) in Dhaka. Asia Cup most likely to go ahead as planned ACC AGM is likely to take a final decision on the Asia Cup 2025. The tournament schedule and other important details are expected to be confirmed during the meeting in Dhaka. The reserved window for the Asia Cup 2025 is 10 to 28 September. It is expected to be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite India being the designated hosts. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chairman Aminul Islam has tried to stay away from the controversy, saying they are only playing the part of a host. 'The ACC is an organisation that operates with five full members from Asia and 25 associate countries. The ACC asked us whether we wanted to host the AGM and we agreed to it. This is an ACC programme, and we will only provide logistical support,' he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We are in touch with the ACC, who is informing us who is coming and who is not, as we have to make arrangements for airport pick-ups, hotel bookings and other support.'
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, Bangladesh agree to relax visa rules
Listen to article In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties, Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed in principle to allow visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports. The breakthrough was achieved during a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh's Home Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka on Wednesday. Naqvi, who is also head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is in Dhaka to attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). On the sidelines, he held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart as part of ongoing efforts by the two sides to reset their ties. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen a positive turnaround since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina Wajid government in August 2023. Following the end of 15-year Awami League rule, Pakistan and Bangladesh stepped up efforts to restore their bilateral ties. There have been increased bilateral exchanges between the two sides. The visit of Naqvi was the latest example of those increased interactions. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also supposed to visit Dhaka in late April but tensions between Pakistan and India led to the delay in the landmark trip. The decision by the two sides to allow visa free entry to those who hold diplomatic and official passports is seen as significant step. During the Hasina government, Pakistani diplomat had to face increase scrutiny and surveillance. Pakistani exports to Dhaka also faced non tarrif barriers. But those restrictions have been lifted by the interim Bangladesh government. A statement issued here by the interior ministry said, the Bangladeshi Home Minister extended a warm welcome to his Pakistani counterpart, who was presented with a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Describing the visit as "of great significance for strengthening bilateral relations," Chowdhury thanked Minister Naqvi for offering training opportunities for Bangladeshi police officers. During the talks, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in internal security, police training, counter-narcotics, anti-human trafficking, and counter-terrorism efforts. Exchange programs between police academies of the two countries were also discussed. It was decided to establish a joint committee to further boost bilateral cooperation, which will be headed by Pakistan's Federal Secretary for Interior, Khurram Agha. Additionally, a high-level Bangladeshi delegation will soon visit the National Police Academy in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Bangladesh's State Minister for Home Affairs Khuda Bakhsh, Secretary for Home Affairs Nasim Al-Ghani, Additional Secretary Security Division Shamim Khan, Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires Muhammad Wasif, Political Counsellor Kamran Dehingal, and other senior officials.
