The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed speculation that it requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to place India and Pakistan in separate groups for upcoming global tournaments. The rumors, which surfaced following the Pahalgam terror attack, have been widely circulated, but BCCI officials have clarified that no such request has been made.
BCCI’s Official Stand
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stated that while India continues to boycott bilateral cricket with Pakistan due to diplomatic tensions, the board has not approached the ICC regarding tournament groupings. He emphasized that India’s participation in ICC events follows standard tournament protocols, and any changes would be made in consultation with the Indian government.
India-Pakistan Cricket Relations
- India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13, with their encounters limited to ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events.
- The 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in India, will follow a round-robin format, meaning all teams—including Pakistan—will face each other without group allocations.
- The 2025 Asia Cup, hosted by India, is expected to take place at a neutral venue, with broadcasters pushing for at least two India-Pakistan matches due to commercial interests.
Clarification on Misinformation
Reports suggesting that BCCI had formally requested ICC to avoid India-Pakistan matchups appear to be based on unverified claims. A senior BCCI official told Cricbuzz that such a development was news to him, further reinforcing that no official communication has been made.
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to impact cricketing relations, BCCI remains committed to government directives while ensuring India’s participation in global tournaments.
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