CRICKET POLL

Since the Pahalgam attacks, there has been intense speculation that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting that India and Pakistan not be clubbed in the same group in the future global events. As with many such matters, there are facts - and then there are alternative facts.

For the record, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has already clarified that the Board will follow the government's advice on the matter. A top BCCI office-bearer also told Cricbuzz that such a development is news to him. The BCCI authorities are sensitive to the prevailing national mood but as things stand, there is no truth to the speculation.

There is no immediate ICC event on the horizon, with the earliest one being the Women's ODI World Cup scheduled for September-October in India. Pakistan have qualified for it and the eight-team tournament is held in an all-play-all round-robin format, with no groupings involved.

As per the pre-tournament arrangement, Pakistan's matches will be held in a neutral venue. Being the designated host, the BCCI will need to determine that venue - but there is still time before a final decision is made. For the record, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh besides India and Pakistan are the eight teams.

But before the ODI Women's World Cup, there is the men's Asia Cup, again, for which the BCCI is the designated host. As first reported by Cricbuzz, it has been decided that it will be held in a neutral country and September is the allotted window.

Whether that continental championship will be held in Dubai or Sri Lanka is of academic interest; the more significant aspect is the tournament grouping. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has sold the media rights for the Asia Cup - valued at $170 million for four editions - based on an unofficial understanding that each edition will feature at least two India-Pakistan matches, with the possibility of a third if the teams meet in the final. The media rights deal is middle-heavy than front-or back-loaded, which means the 2025 edition would cost around $ 38 million, instead of the average value of $ 42.5 million.

In the last edition of the Asia Cup in 2023, held in a hybrid model, India and Pakistan were placed in the same group. The two teams faced off twice - once in the league stage and again in the Super Four. The second encounter was washed out, and Pakistan, incidentally, failed to reach the final. India then lifted the trophy by defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

The venue for the upcoming edition has yet to be announced, but Cricbuzz understands that the draw was initially expected to take place sometime in May. However, with sufficient time remaining, it may now be deferred. The general impression is that any final decision will hinge on the escalation or de-escalation of prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan.