India has decided to continue Operation Sindoor in cricket through a non-kinetic strategy, opting for political and sporting isolation of Pakistan on the international cricketing stage.

India Withdraws from Asia Cup 2025

Sources from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed that India has withdrawn from all upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments. This includes the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, which India was scheduled to host in September, and the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, planned for next month in Sri Lanka.

This bold move marks India’s stand on cricket diplomacy, as part of its broader Operation Sindoor strategy following recent escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.

India’s Stand: No Participation Under ACC Headed by Pakistan Minister

India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup, having won the tournament in 2023. However, the current Asia Cup 2025 schedule—with Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, heading the ACC—has led India to officially withdraw from ACC-hosted events.

This reinforces India’s boycott of Pakistan in cricket, extending beyond bilateral series to multi-nation cricket tournaments like the Asia Cup.

Operation Sindoor’s Ripple Effect on Cricket Tournaments

India’s decision is rooted in the sentiments that followed the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed, prompting Operation Sindoor—a swift Indian military response that targeted terror hubs in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and within Pakistan.

This has further hardened India’s stance: no cricket with Pakistan, not even on neutral grounds.

Political Tensions in Cricket | Impact on ACC Tournaments

The Asia Cup was originally created in 1983 by the Asian Cricket Council to promote goodwill between Asian countries. But with rising India-Pakistan cricket tensions, India has now withdrawn from the Asia Cup 2025 as well as the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup, citing national interest and a refusal to engage in any ACC event led by a Pakistani official.

The BCCI source confirmed:

“The Indian team can’t play in a tournament that is organised by the ACC whose chief is a Pakistan minister. That’s the sentiment of the nation.”

India’s Boycott Could Collapse Asia Cup 2025

India’s withdrawal may cause the Asia Cup 2025 to be cancelled, with other participating teams potentially following suit. With India’s massive fan base and cricketing power in Asia, sponsors and broadcasters like Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)—which has an eight-year, US$ 170 million rights deal—may be forced to re-evaluate contracts due to the loss of the tournament’s biggest draw: Team India.

India’s boycott of Asia Cup might lead the BCCI to organise a multi-nation tournament excluding Pakistan, especially if the current structure of ACC collapses.

Fans Support the Decision: “Nation Comes First”

For Indian cricket fans, the decision resonates deeply. In the eyes of many, “cricket diplomacy 2025” must take a backseat to national security. As one fan expressed on social media:

“Nothing comes above the nation. Kudos to BCCI.”

Will Asia Cup Be Held Without India?

That’s now the million-dollar question. Without India, not only does the tournament lose financial and broadcast value, but the credibility and competitive edge also take a hit. The situation places the ACC and the host nation in a tough position. A cancelled Asia Cup 2025 seems more likely unless a dramatic shift in the diplomatic landscape occurs.