Asia Cup decision soon, says Pakistan cricket chief

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi said the general council meeting of the continental body was well-attended and productive, adding that details regarding the upcoming Asia Cup will be announced soon, pending resolution of a few matters with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“We are currently in consultation with the BCCI regarding the Asia Cup. Discussions are progressing well and we hope to resolve the matter shortly. An official announcement will be made soon,” Naqvi told reporters in Dhaka following the meeting on Thursday.

Naqvi, who is also a federal minister, emphasized the collaborative nature of the gathering, stating that he and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Aminul Islam Bulbul had committed to addressing several pending issues.

“We are confident these will be resolved in due course,” he added.

Describing the atmosphere of the meeting Naqvi noted: “It was a very successful meeting with all 25 member nations in attendance and actively participating. I want to extend my sincere thanks to Aminul Bhai for his warm hospitality and excellent organization. We had two productive and memorable days in a very positive environment,” he said.

“Everyone reaffirmed their commitment to the growth and development of cricket. It was a fruitful meeting with constructive discussions throughout.”

Responding to questions about India's physical absence from the meeting, Naqvi clarified, “While a few countries could not travel to Dhaka this is understandable given current constraints. I myself could not attend an earlier ICC meeting in Singapore due to similar reasons. What matters is that all 25 members participated which reflects the strong unity and dedication within the ACC.”

"Collective efforts"

When asked about reports suggesting that three major nations had initially been reluctant to attend and what he had done to convince them Naqvi said: “The success of the meeting was a result of the collective efforts and commitment of all members. The unity we have demonstrated is what truly matters.”

BCB chief Aminul Islam Bulbul also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to host the event and praised the cooperative spirit of the ACC members.

“On behalf of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, I would like to thank the ACC and Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for allowing us to host this wonderful event in Dhaka. We are proud to say the meeting concluded very successfully,” Aminul said.

“It’s all about leadership and cooperation. All ACC members were very supportive, and we’re united in our efforts to promote the great game of cricket.”

According to sources, there was nothing discussed during the meeting that could jeopardize the Asia Cup.

An Indian web portal, citing sources, reported that the BCCI is currently working through some issues with commercial partners and an official announcement about the tournament is expected in the coming days.

The eight-team Asia Cup is likely to be hosted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with the tournament tentatively scheduled to begin most probably in the second week of September.