Post by : Meena Ariff

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has initiated the formation of a committee to resolve the current tensions between India and Pakistan following the Asia Cup 2025. This decision came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) voiced concerns during the ICC Board meeting on Friday.

As both countries hold firm on their respective stances, the ICC has appointed Pankaj Khimji, chairman of the Oman Cricket Board, to spearhead the committee. Khimji possesses strong relationships with both cricket boards and has relevant mediation experience.

Following the Asia Cup final, tensions heightened when the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, refrained from presenting the trophy to Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. Reports indicate that the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi due to his political position as Pakistan's Interior Minister. Instead, Yadav opted to celebrate with his team, leading to a diplomatic impasse.

Naqvi later extended an invitation to the BCCI to collect the trophy at a ceremony in Dubai on November 10, which was subsequently rejected. The BCCI brought this issue to the forefront at the ICC meeting.

Sources indicate that the discussions were conducted in a friendly atmosphere, with representatives from Australia, England, and South Africa advocating for a peaceful resolution. The ICC Board has agreed to establish a three-member panel aimed at addressing the trophy dispute and enhancing cricket relations between the two nations.

Naqvi's attendance at the meeting was confirmed only shortly before it commenced, following a rescheduling of a significant Senate session in Pakistan.

#Global News