Will Asia Cup 2025 Survive Without India? PCB Fears Massive Losses

Sports News:  The Asia Cup 2025 to be held in the month of September is in danger. Reports have emerged that the Indian cricket team will not play in this tournament. There has been no official statement from the BCCI regarding this. According to the Indian Express report, the Indian team will not participate in the Asia Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) braces for losses of ₹165-220 crore, as India’s participation drives the tournament’s commercial success. Without Team India, the event’s survival is uncertain.

India’s Potential Withdrawal

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering withdrawing from the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent cross-border conflicts. India has not played a cricket match in Pakistan since 2008, and now the BCCI has reportedly informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that it will neither host nor participate in the T20-format Asia Cup. This decision comes amid Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi leading the ACC, a situation that has caused discomfort in India and stirred nationalistic sentiments against taking part in events overseen by Pakistan. Moreover, the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, scheduled for June 2025, has already been canceled, indicating a wider boycott from the Indian side.

Financial Fallout for PCB

Matches between India and Pakistan are a major revenue source for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), generating between ₹165 to ₹220 crore per tournament cycle from sponsorship deals and broadcasting rights. Indian sponsors contribute significantly to the Asia Cup’s income, while broadcasters benefit enormously from the high television ratings during India-Pakistan games. Without India’s participation, the tournament’s attractiveness diminishes drastically, leading to potential withdrawal of sponsors and a sharp decline in advertising revenue. The PCB is already facing a financial setback, having suffered a ₹700 crore loss during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to India’s absence. This ongoing situation threatens to deepen the PCB’s financial crisis, forcing them to consider overdrafts and budget cuts to manage expenses.