Amid tensions with Pakistan
\n\u201cAt this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and subsequent England series,\u201d says BCCI secretary
\n Islamabad
\nThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday refuted media reports claiming that India had decided to pull out of the upcoming Asia Cup and the Women\u2019s Emerging Teams Asia Cup \u2014 both key tournaments under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
\n\u201cSince this morning, it has come to our notice about some news reports that the BCCI has decided not to participate in the Asia Cup and the Women\u2019s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, both of which are ACC events. Such news are devoid of any truth as till now,\u201d BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI.
\nHe further clarified that the BCCI has not even discussed or taken any such steps regarding the upcoming ACC events, Indian media reported.
\n\u201cAt this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and subsequent England series, both men\u2019s and women\u2019s,\u201d he added.
\nEarlier in the day, Indian media had reported that owing to continued political tensions with Pakistan, the BCCI had decided to pull out of all ACC-organised tournaments.
\nThose reports stated that the BCCI had withdrawn from both the Asia Cup, scheduled for September in India, and the Women\u2019s Emerging Asia Cup, due to take place in June in Sri Lanka, allegedly in response to Pakistan\u2019s leadership role in the ACC.
\nIt was also reported that while no formal communication had been made, the BCCI had verbally informed the ACC about its withdrawal and placed other upcoming events on hold.
\nAn unnamed official was quoted saying the Indian team could not participate in a tournament headed by a Pakistani minister, referring to Mohsin Naqvi, who currently serves as both PCB Chairman and ACC President.
\nIndia is the defending champion of the Asia Cup, and the earlier reports described the alleged decision as politically motivated, amid rising tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
\nEarlier this month, India\u2019s head coach Gautam Gambhir said he personally believes India should not play any cricket with Pakistan, not even in neutral venues, after a deadly militant attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) last month.
\nTwo-way cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours remains suspended since 2013 and they play each other only in multi-team tournaments, mostly in neutral venues.
\n\u201cMy personal answer to this is absolutely no,\u201d Gambhir said on Tuesday, hours before India launched unprovoked airstrikes on Pakistan, when asked for his view on India-Pakistan cricket.
\n\u201cTill all this doesn\u2019t stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan.\u201d
\nAny match between the arch-rivals remains a cricketing blockbuster and is declared soldout within hours after tickets go on sale.
\nPakistan\u2019s men\u2019s team toured India for the 50-overs World Cup in 2023 but their neighbours have not reciprocated.
\nIndia refused to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy earlier this year and played all their matches in Dubai instead.
\nLast month, India\u2019s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra withdrew his invitation to Pakistan\u2019s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem to compete in a May 24 event in the southern city of Bengaluru following the Phalgam attack. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Amid tensions with Pakistan \u201cAt this stage, our prime focus is on the ongoing IPL and subsequent England series,\u201d says BCCI secretary Islamabad The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday refuted media reports claiming that India had decided to pull out of the upcoming Asia Cup and the Women\u2019s Emerging Teams […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":479513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-479495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n