Sunil Gavaskar Calls for Pakistan’s Exclusion from Asia Cup and ACC

ISLAMABAD: Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has sparked controversy with his recent remarks about the future of the Asia Cup and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), following ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Gavaskar’s comments come as the cricketing world looks ahead to the 2025 Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka later this year.

Speaking to Sports Today, Gavaskar questioned whether Pakistan would be able to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, given the current political climate. He pointed out that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) typically follows the Indian government’s directives regarding matches against Pakistan, and suggested that the situation is unlikely to change soon.

Sunil Gavaskar went further, suggesting that the Asian Cricket Council could even be disbanded. He proposed that, instead of the traditional Asia Cup format, India, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh could host alternative multi-nation tournaments. These could involve three or four teams, with possible invitations extended to countries like Hong Kong or the UAE.

Gavaskar also hinted at the possibility of India withdrawing from the ACC altogether and organizing its own four or five-nation tournaments, potentially hosted in India, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh. He emphasized that much depends on how the situation develops in the coming months.

These comments from the former Indian captain highlight the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup and raise questions about the future of the ACC itself. As the tournament approaches, cricket fans across the region will be watching closely to see how these developments unfold.

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