The much-anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), set to be hosted in Dhaka by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has been mired in controversy even before it began. Indian media outlets have reported extensively over the past week that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is boycotting the meeting due to ongoing political tensions with Pakistan.
With Mohsin Naqvi serving simultaneously as the president of both the ACC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and with recent diplomatic strains between India and Bangladesh, speculation has intensified that geopolitics is playing a significant role in India’s absence.
The AGM, scheduled for 23 and 24 July at a five-star hotel in Dhaka, is also being reportedly skipped by Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. As of the latest updates, no representatives from these full-member countries have arrived in Bangladesh. According to ACC rules, a quorum requires at least three full member nations to be represented among the 27 members. With only Bangladesh and Pakistan present, any decisions taken at the meeting could lack legitimacy.
This impasse puts the future of the upcoming Asia Cup in serious doubt. Initially awarded to India, the tournament was set to begin in the second week of September. However, the BCCI has remained firm in its refusal to travel to Pakistan, prompting discussions around a hybrid model. Pakistan is similarly unwilling to play in India, which has led to potential alternatives such as the UAE or Sri Lanka being considered as neutral venues.
The fate of the Asia Cup now hinges on the outcome of this AGM. If India remains unwilling to participate, the tournament might not take place at all. This reflects the influence India holds in world cricket, from broadcast rights to overall market value. Indian media reports suggest that the BCCI is already exploring backup options, including the possibility of hosting a tri-nation series on home soil during the Asia Cup window.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Interior Minister and ACC President Mohsin Raza Naqvi paid a courtesy visit to Mr Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
The meeting began with Naqvi expressing his deepest condolences on behalf of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the tragic casualties caused by the recent aircraft accident at Milestone College in Uttara, Dhaka.
Discussions followed on ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Both parties expressed keen interest in expanding cooperation in sports, particularly in cricket, hockey, and kabaddi. Additionally, areas such as youth skill development, technical training, employment initiatives, and academic collaboration were explored. Topics included scholarships, exchange of educational opportunities, and joint efforts in renewable energy, especially solar power innovation.
During the meeting, Naqvi extended a formal invitation to the Bangladeshi adviser to visit Pakistan. The dialogue reflected optimism that Bangladesh and Pakistan could take their multifaceted partnership to new heights, particularly in youth engagement, sport, education, and energy.
For the BCB, hosting the ACC AGM for the first time was expected to be a milestone moment. However, their role remains strictly logistical. Speaking to the media, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul clarified, “Let me make it clear about the ACC meeting. The ACC operates with five full members and 25 associate members. We were approached by the ACC to host this AGM, and we agreed. It is entirely their programme. We are simply providing logistical support, nothing more.”
Despite that straightforward position, the situation raises uncomfortable questions. As regional cricket politics become increasingly intertwined with diplomacy and state relations, Bangladesh may find itself caught in the crossfire.