Latest news with #DevajitSaikia
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Asia Cup's Future in Flux as UAE Emerges as Neutral Host Amid India–Pakistan Strain
Asian Cricket Council officials are accelerating preparations to shift the 2025 Asia Cup to the United Arab Emirates, prompted by escalating diplomatic tensions and logistical barriers between India and Pakistan. Originally awarded to India, the tournament, scheduled for September, will adopt a neutral venue in a bid to preserve participation from all eight qualifying teams. Sources within ACC and Pakistan Cricket Board suggest that holding the entire tournament in UAE offers the only viable path forward, ensuring both cricketing integrity and commercial viability. Accruing nearly US$170 million in media rights, the Asia Cup commands considerable financial stakes. With India and Pakistan at the centre of its appeal, organisers are unwilling to jeopardise the competition. Forbes reports confirm that ACC officials have concluded that relocating the tournament is more feasible than attempting a hybrid model involving split venues. The UAE becomes the default choice, replicating approaches from previous tournaments when political dynamics between South Asian nations hindered full-fledged hosting arrangements. PCB figures confirm that Pakistan will participate in the UAE-hosted event, despite its reluctance to travel to India. Pakistan also plans a preparatory tri-series in August in Dubai involving Afghanistan and the UAE team—effectively replacing previously scheduled fixtures and maintaining match readiness should the Asia Cup shift occur. With the PCB's Mohsin Naqvi doubling as ACC president, such parallel initiatives underscore Pakistan's active role in preserving the tournament's continuity. ADVERTISEMENT Yet India has maintained a discreet stance. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has neither confirmed nor denied its capacity to host or participate, with internal caution dominating its external posture. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently refuted reports that India would withdraw from all ACC events. Still, precedent indicates India's avoidance of Pakistan-hosted events: The team did not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in February–March, instead participating in Dubai under a hybrid format. Recalling historical context affirms the ACC's decision. In 2018, the tournament was relocated from India to UAE amid similar political friction. Such precedent sets a framework for crisis management within the sport, suggesting that regional hostilities do not necessarily derail cricketing schedules. Observers also note that India has consistently leveraged a hybrid model since 2022, notably playing Asia Cup matches in UAE and Sri Lanka rather than Pakistan. Operationally, staging the Asia Cup in UAE will require careful planning, balancing weather conditions in September, broadcast scheduling for global audiences, and coordination with the tri-series. The PCB's tri-series proposal is advancing, reflecting a proactive stance. Meanwhile, ACC is likely to convene soon, under Naqvi's leadership, to finalise the tournament's relocation, format adjustments, and confirmation of venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. No official announcement has yet been made, but reports from ET and ProPakistani align in describing the move as imminent. Stakeholders are weighing broader implications. Indian broadcasters and advertisers depend heavily on premium fixtures, particularly India–Pakistan matches that attract unparalleled viewership. A full UAE tournament may retain this commercial allure while circumventing diplomatic entanglements. For smaller teams such as Hong Kong, Oman and UAE—each having qualified through ACC's Premier Cup—the neutral format ensures on-field exposure without political fallout. However, dissenting voices warn against complacency. Some Pakistani conspirators question whether a UAE relocation diminishes Pakistan's role as host, contrary to its status as 2025 Champions Trophy host and an ACC full member. Conversely, BCCI's insistence on a hybrid model has previously delayed Pakistan-based hosting, but this time the initial hosting rights belong to India. Any pivot could attract scrutiny over ACC governance and fairness, adding dimension to an already complex political backdrop. ADVERTISEMENT Supporters of the hybrid model note that India's hybrid strategy for the Champions Trophy earlier this year preserved integrity but exposed limitations. Attendance at Dubai was lukewarm; Australia–India clashes lacked the vibrancy typical of full-capacity Pakistan venues. UAE's smaller suburban stadiums and shorter pitches may limit spectator buzz, but logistical expediency and political neutrality weigh heavily. Athletes themselves face uncertainty. India and Pakistan players have not toured regularly since 2008 in bilateral series, and momentum often arises through ICC events. The Asia Cup in UAE represents another opportunity for competitive engagement before the T20 World Cup in 2026. With eight teams and nineteen matches planned, this Asia Cup holds relevance for Qatar 2026 preparations. Still, fragmented venues and political overtones could overshadow performance, causing players and fans to question cricket's autonomy from geopolitics. As the ACC readies its final call, timing remains critical. A decision made before July is necessary to confirm bilateral arrangements, tickets, broadcasting contracts, and tri-series scheduling. ACC's resolution will reverberate across regional cricket administration, testing confidence in neutral venues as a template for coping with diplomatic disruptions.
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Asia Cup Venue Changed As Officials Hope To Avoid Cancellation: Report
Last Updated: The ACC has reportedly shifted the 2025 Asia Cup from India to the UAE as officials continue to hope that the tournament will go ahead despite India-Pakistan tensions. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, has reportedly moved the 2025 men's Asia Cup to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite India being the official host. Clouds still remain over whether the competition will be played at all, in light of the tensions between the two biggest participant nations, India and Pakistan, but officials hope a change in venue will help. According to Forbes, a final decision is expected at the ICC's Annual General Meeting in Singapore next month. But for now, it seems to be decided that the UAE will host the tournament if it goes ahead. It has beaten competition from Sri Lanka, the host of the last edition in 2023, which was also in strong running. India and Pakistan had already reached an arrangement before the 2025 Champions Trophy, where all of their multi-national tournament matches for the foreseeable future will be held in neutral venues. The Asia Cup was put under further doubt after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which took the lives of 26 innocents in Kashmir, and led to retaliatory action from India, bringing it on the brink of a war with Pakistan. Several reports in India have claimed that the tournament won't go ahead, but stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic. 'Things have been quiet amid the tension, and there is much to play out, but there is still time," Forbes cited an official close to discussions as saying. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has also denied rumors of India's 'opting out' of the tournament. Sportstar. The UAE has been a backup neutral venue of several such emergency scenarios, including the Champions Trophy's India matches and some IPL editions. The Cup, if it goes ahead, will be played in the T20 format as preparations for next year's T20 World Cup. First Published: June 17, 2025, 12:38 IST
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First Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
New host decided for Asia Cup 2025 amid fears of cancellation; clarity may come next month: Report
The suspense over Asia Cup 2025 could end next month. Meanwhile, a new host has reportedly been picked for the tournament that could see India play against Pakistan. read more Asia Cup 2025 will reportedly not be hosted in India despite BCCI being the hosts. Image: PTI The 2025 Asia Cup is reportedly set to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite India being hosts; however, question marks still hover around whether the tournament will be played in the first place. The decision on that can come as early as August. The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to be played in September in the T20I format. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the designated host for the Asia Cup 2025, but it was reported in the past that the tournament would be hosted at a neutral venue to ensure India vs Pakistan matches go ahead without any hiccup. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to a report in Forbes, the UAE has now emerged as the most likely host for the Asia Cup 2025, if the tournament goes ahead. The biggest threat to the event is the worsening relationship between India and Pakistan following the April Pahalgam terror attack. Also Read | With Asia Cup appearing highly unlikely, PCB comes up with alternate plan The BCCI has always sought the Indian government's approval for playing against Pakistan, but after the breakdown in relationships between the two neighbours since the terror attack and India's strong retaliatory actions through Operation Sindoor, there are high chances that India may pull out of the Asia Cup 2025. In case India withdraw, the Asia Cup 2025 is expected to be cancelled as the India vs Pakistan matches are the biggest attractions of the tournament, which also leads to expensive media rights. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) won the media rights for the Asia Cup in 2024 for eight years for a sum of US$ 170 million. But if India pull out, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which conducts the tournament, is set to lose millions. Also Read | How Pakistan cricket, Asia Cup will be impacted if BCCI withdraws Major media houses in India have already reported that the BCCI is set to boycott the Asia Cup 2025 as the ACC is currently headed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has since denied these reports , but the dominating sentiment is that India will eventually boycott the tournament. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The final decision could be made next month after the ICC Annual General Meeting in Singapore.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
BCCI holds 28th Apex Council meeting, constitutes committee to form guidelines for victory celebrations after tournaments
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 14 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held its 28th Apex Council meeting on Saturday, during which a committee was formed to prevent cases like the stampede outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win. Also, venues for the home white-ball series between India and New Zealand were approved. The committee will be headed by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. The committee will formulate guidelines about such victory celebrations within 15 days. A statement from BCCI said, 'The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) convened its 28th Apex Council Meeting on Saturday, June 14, 2025.' 'The following key decisions were taken during the meeting: The Apex Council expressed its profound grief over the tragic incidents in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, which led to the unfortunate loss of innocent lives.' 'In light of the incident that occurred during the victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Apex Council has decided to constitute a committee to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such occurrences in the future. The committee will comprise: Devajit Saikia (Chairperson), Prabhtej Singh Bhatia (BCCI Treasurer) and Rajeev Shukla (BCCI vice-president). The committee will formulate the guidelines within 15 days,' the statement continued. The stampede left 11 people dead and 33 people injured. The Apex Council confirmed the venues for India's upcoming white-ball home series against New Zealand, scheduled to be held in early 2026. The series will have three ODIs to be held at Baroda (January 11), Rajkot (January 14) and Indore (January 18) and five T20Is to take place at Nagpur (January 21), Raipur (January 23), Guwahati (January 25), Vizag (January 28) and Trivandrum (January 31). The BCCI Domestic Season 2025-26 has been approved, the season will start with the Duleep Trophy (August 28, 2025) and conclude with the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy (April 3, 2026). There have been some key changes made to domestic cricket tournaments and structure: *The Duleep Trophy and Senior Women's Challenger tournaments will now be contested between six zonal teams selected by zonal selectors. *Plate Group restructuring has been introduced across age categories. The bottom 6 teams (based on the previous season's rankings) will be placed in the Plate Group for limited-overs tournaments. *Promotion/relegation rules updated: Only one team will be promoted/relegated between Elite and Plate groups going forward. *Tournament Format Updates: The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Senior Women's T20 Trophy will now include a Super League stage instead of a traditional knockout. *New Grouping Formats: Major tournaments such as Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women's One Day Trophy, and Men's U23 State A Trophy will follow a 4 Elite Groups + 1 Plate Group model. Most junior and women's tournaments (U16, U19, U23) have moved to a 5 Elite + 1 Plate group structure. The Apex Council has resolved to establish a Working Group comprising five (5) 'Umpire Coaches' to oversee the development of umpires and enhance their on-field performance. These five 'Umpire Coaches' must possess international umpiring experience and have served as former umpires. Additionally, the Apex Council has decided to form a Working Group consisting of three (3) former Match Referees. This Working Group will be responsible for monitoring the development of match referees and providing them with opportunities to improve their performance in cricket matches. (ANI)
India.com
6 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
BCCI Forms Committee To Prevent Bengaluru Stampede-Like Incidents; Check Details
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formed a committee which will be tasked to formulate guidelines in 15 days to prevent incidents like the Bengaluru stampede in future. The committee comprises three top BCCI officials - secretary Devajit Saikia, vice-president Rajiv Shukla and treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia. The decision taken in the 28th BCCI Apex Council meeting held on Saturday comes in the aftermath of the stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 4, a day after they won their maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad. With nearly two lakh fans trying to enter the stadium, a stampede occurred outside the gates that led to 11 tragic deaths and 33 fans being injured. "The Apex Council expressed its profound grief over the tragic incidents in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, which led to the unfortunate loss of innocent lives. In light of the incident that occurred during the victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Apex Council has decided to constitute a committee to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such occurrences in the future. The committee will formulate the guidelines within 15 days," the BCCI said in a statement. The incident outside Chinnaswamy had led to arrests of RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale, who is out on bail, as well as of DNA Entertainment Networks officials. It also led to Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer E.S. Jairam resigning from their respective posts on June 6.
