 "BCCI 'putting on a show' against Pakistan, 'they value tournament revenue': Pakistani media")
The barrage of attacks on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from Pakistan amid the ongoing Asia Cup trophy row continues unabated. The Indian cricket board has now been accused of “putting on a show” with “manufactured outrage” against Pakistan to hide its love for revenue.
Despite Indian fans vehemently opposing India’s participation in the Asia Cup 2025, a tournament just a few months after the Pahalgam attack, the BCCI went ahead with the competition with a larger goal in mind. India is hoping to host the 2036 Olympics and does not want to take any step that can jeopardise its candidature and give Pakistan a chance to corner it on the international stage.
BCCI faces Pakistan media criticism for Asia Cup protest
However, Indian players registered their own protest against Pakistan by refusing to shake hands with them in the three matches they played, including the final, in the tournament. Suryakumar Yadav and Co also refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Naqvi has since refused to hand over the trophy to India, leading to a battle between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at ACC.
The cricketing relations between India and Pakistan hit a new low recently when former Pakistan captain Sana Mir referred to Natalia Pervaiz as a player from "Azad Kashmir" during commentary of an ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match, a tournament hosted by India. Pakistanis often refer to the illegally occupied region of Kashmir as “Azad Kashmir.”
BCCI challenged to boycott Pakistan matches
Mir’s provocation led to a massive outrage on social media, but Pakistani media is blaming the Indian fans for being fussy. An editorial in the Pakistani newspaper Tribune called the backlash against Mir “farcical” and caused by “loudmouth nationalists.”
It also accused BCCI of prioritising revenue over “national pride” as it challenged them to either refuse playing matches against Pakistan or stop “putting on a show.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThis is not the first time BCCI or the Indians have been blamed for the friction between the two countries on the field. A separate report in Cricket Pakistan claims that the BCCI is trying to create a rift within ACC to remove Naqvi from the president’s post.
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