Asia Cup 2025: BCCI plans 'invisible boycott' of India-Pakistan clash - what does is it mean

Asia Cup 2025: BCCI plans 'invisible boycott' of India-Pakistan clash (PTI Photo)

As the cricketing world braces for another India-Pakistan showdown in the Asia Cup 2025, a cloud of controversy hangs over the fixture. The match, scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, will go ahead, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has quietly chosen to step back, effectively staging an “invisible boycott”.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, no senior BCCI office-bearer has travelled to Dubai so far, despite India being the designated host of this year’s tournament. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) shifted the matches to the United Arab Emirates following escalating political tensions between India and Pakistan.

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The absence of BCCI officials appears to be a direct response to public sentiment. In recent weeks, several fan groups across India have amplified boycott campaigns, urging the board not to lend symbolic support to the contest. While veteran administrator Rajeev Shukla may attend in his capacity as an ACC representative, it is understood that neither BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia nor ICC Chairman Jay Shah intends to be present.

This stance marks a sharp contrast to earlier this year, when the same venue hosted an India-Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy. On that occasion, the stands were filled not only with fans but also with a large contingent of BCCI dignitaries and state association heads. Their absence this time underscores the weight of the current political climate.

The India-Pakistan rivalry has always transcended cricket, often reflecting the state of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Yet Sunday’s contest—traditionally billed as the “biggest show in cricket”—arrives stripped of much of its usual spectacle. Ticket sales have been sluggish, and the online discourse has shifted from anticipation to resentment, with many calling for a complete boycott of the broadcast.

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On the field, however, India enters as overwhelming favourites. A strong and versatile squad gives the Men in Blue a clear edge, while Pakistan faces the uphill task of stopping their arch-rivals’ momentum.

Still, the most significant storyline may emerge away from the pitch. With the BCCI’s silent protest shaping the backdrop, Sunday’s encounter could be remembered as one of the most politically charged — and least celebrated — India-Pakistan matches in recent history.