Asia Cup Fate in BCCI Hands as ACC Meeting Adjourns, Vice-President Election Delayed

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka on Thursday, July 24th, but key decisions remain unresolved. While the meeting addressed several important issues, the election of the vice-president was deferred, leading to the adjournment of the session.

Members of the ACC at the AGM in Dhaka © BCB

The Asia Cup decision was also not officially finalized during the AGM. However, it is widely anticipated that the tournament will proceed. As the host nation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will make the ultimate determination. "The decision regarding the Asia Cup will come soon. The venue and schedule will be announced too," stated Mosin Naqvi, the PCB and ACC head, following the meeting.

It is understood that the ACC, under Naqvi's leadership, will align its stance on both the Asia Cup and the election process with the BCCI's position. The vice-presidential election is expected to be rescheduled for a later date and location. Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, and Ashish Shelar, a former BCCI treasurer, participated in the meeting remotely.

Naqvi addressed the absence of representatives from several countries at the Dhaka meeting, stating, "Several countries were not able to come to Dhaka, it happens every time... This is a normal thing - the majority of the members come, and some don't come due to their schedule too. But we've got all 25 members (in this meeting - both physically and online), who participated in the meeting."

Sources present at the meeting indicated a strong likelihood of the Asia Cup moving forward. "We cannot say it will happen for sure, but there was no impression that it wouldn't happen. The BCCI is sorting out issues with commercial partners. It will take some time."

Asia Cup Details

The tournament is expected to feature eight teams:

• UAE
• Hong Kong
• Oman
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Pakistan

The 19-match event is tentatively scheduled from September 10 to September 28, although an earlier start date remains a possibility.

Venue

The Asia Cup is likely to be held in the UAE, with matches taking place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This decision follows the ACC's policy of hosting the tournament in a neutral country when either India or Pakistan is the designated host.

Other Key Decisions

The AGM also included the following key outcomes:

• Approval of audited financial accounts.
• Approval of the ACC budget.
• Approval of the comprehensive tournament calendar for 2025-2026.
• Announcement of cricket's inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, featuring 10 men's and eight women's teams selected based on rankings.
• Welcoming of three new member nations: Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines.