A bumpy road to the Asia Cup 2025

When last week’s column was published, the drama over whether the 2025 Asia Cup would be played or not still rumbled on. There was even uncertainty over whether the Annual General Meeting of the Asia Cricket Council, scheduled for July 24 and 25 in Dhaka, would be quorate.

In the end, the ACC’s meeting did take place, with several constituent boards participating virtually, including India. The formal press release pointedly stated that the meeting, held on July 24, was attended by 100 percent of the ACC’s 25 members.

There was approval for the audited financial accounts, the ACC budget and the comprehensive 2025-2026 tournament calendar, involving all member countries.

It was announced that cricket would be included in the 2026 Asian Games, due to be held in Japan, involving 10 men’s and eight women’s teams, to be chosen based on their rankings. Three new member nations were welcomed — Mongolia, Uzbekistan and the Philippines.

These positive outcomes should not suggest that all is well in the camp, with sensitivities running high. The meeting was adjourned rather than concluded, on the basis that the election of a new vice president did not take place.

Reports suggest that Mumbashir Usmani of the Emirates Cricket Board and the recently elected Mahinda Vallipuram, president of the Malaysian Cricket Association, were contenders.

Most notably, a formal decision on the Asia Cup was not taken. It was not even referred to in the press release. However, an impression was given that it would take place, pending input from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the tournament’s official host.

After the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi, head of both the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ACC stated that “the decision regarding the