BCCI, PCB in stand-off over AGM venue of ACC

FE Team | Published: July 22, 2025 00:43:52

A major power tussle is brewing between India and Pakistan, with potential implications on the cricket field - particularly the Asia Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering boycotting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)-chaired Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), scheduled for July 24 and 25 in Dhaka, according to Cricbuzz.
The BCCI has insisted that the venue be shifted from Dhaka as a condition for its participation, and its stance is reportedly backed by key allies like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. This has thrown the legality of the AGM itself under a cloud, as the presence of at least three permanent (Test playing) members is required to meet the quorum.
Of the five permanent (Test-playing) members - India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh - the first three appear to be opposed to the meeting in Dhaka. Additionally, the ACC constitution mandates the presence of at least 10 full or Associate members (non-Test playing nations) for a valid quorum, and it appears unlikely that this requirement will be met either.Nepal, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar are all full members. The Associates members are Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Maldives, Japan, Iran, China, Myanmar and Indonesia. Of these members, the presence of Oman, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar and Indonesia is deemed to be doubtful. At the centre of the controversy is the apparent refusal of Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB and ACC chief, to consider an alternative/neutral venue for the AGM. The buzz within the ACC circles suggests that Naqvi - who skipped the ICC Annual Conference in Singapore - was in Kabul on Sunday. The Pakistan Interior Minister used the 'official visit' to seek support of the Afghanistan government for the Dhaka AGM. As of Monday (July 21), however, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials are believed to have assured the India bloc that they won't travel to Dhaka.
India's opposition to the Dhaka meeting is on expected lines, given the recent diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours. The BCCI had recently cancelled next month's scheduled tour of six white ball games. When contacted, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) maintained that it was a matter for the ACC to comment on.