Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), also serves as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). In addition, he holds the post of Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister. There’s little doubt that he is well-versed in the intricacies of politics. Recently, a decision taken by him—accepted in good faith by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)—has led to some trouble, according to several people involved in Bangladeshi cricket.
The controversial decision in question is to host the ACC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka. The newly appointed BCB president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, agreed to this plan at Naqvi’s request. However, the meeting has now sparked complications. India has announced a boycott of the Dhaka meeting. Reports suggest that countries like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Oman have followed India’s lead and aligned themselves under its influence.
Meanwhile, criticism has emerged within the cricketing community about Bulbul’s decision to host the meeting in Dhaka without consulting other board directors. Some are questioning whether this move has pushed Bangladesh cricket into a risky situation.
A BCB official told a local media outlet that Naqvi selected Dhaka as the venue for the AGM without any prior discussion with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The majority of global cricket revenue comes from Indian sponsorship and advertisements. Hosting an Asia Cup without India is almost unthinkable. If India refuses to participate, organizing the tournament becomes nearly impossible. Now, with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan reportedly siding with India, the 2025 Asia Cup itself is under threat.
A BCB official commented, “It was a mistake to move the ACC’s AGM to Dhaka without informing anyone. This has severely damaged Bangladesh cricket. It’s likely that India won’t play here for the next two years. This puts BCB at significant financial risk.”
