The BCCI is slated to host the Asia Cup in a T20 format later this year.
The BCCI is slated to host the Asia Cup in a T20 format later this year. However, things have changed upside down following the dastardly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, resulting in the death of 26 tourists.
The Resistance Front, a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, took responsibility of the assault.
Subsequently, the Indian government announced steps to disconnect any ties with Pakistan, which include revoking all visas issued to Pakistani nationals. India also put the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
Now, Gavaskar has made a bold prediction that it is highly unlikely for Pakistan to take part in the Asia Cup.
"BCCI's stance has always been what the government of India tells them to do. So I don't think it would be any different when it comes to the Asia Cup. India and Sri Lanka are the hosts for this particular edition of the Asia Cup, so it depends on whether things have changed at all, but if things haven't changed, I can't see Pakistan now being part of the Asia Cup, which is going to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka," Gavaskar told Sports Today.
"I don't know how it will be. It might be that the Asian Cricket Council could well be disbanded, and you could just have a three-nation tour, that could well have a three-nation tournament, or a four-nation tournament with maybe Hong Kong or UAE being invited. So that could well happen, the Asian Cricket Council could well be disbanded. But I think it is dependent on what happens in the next couple of months," he added.
Earlier this year, the BCCI had refused to send its team across the border for the ICC Champions Trophy after not getting an approval from the Indian government. As a result, all of India’s matches were held in Dubai and they won the marquee event without losing a match.
A hybrid model was agreed upon that allowed India to play their matches in Dubai. Apart from the Champions Trophy, the hybrid model was also adopted for global events in India till 2027, which means Pakistan will also be able to play matches at a neutral venue.
Gavaskar claimed that the BCCI will invite other teams to play in the Asia Cup in India if Pakistan decide to pull out of the multi-nation continental tournament.
"It could well happen that India decides to pull out of the Asian Cricket Council that could well happen. We can say look we're going to have a 4 nation tournament or a 5 nation tournament in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and it could be, it could well be that if the tournament is held in Bangladesh, the tournament is held in Sri Lanka, but obviously India is going to be the host, then India will host it in India," he remarked.
The 75-year-old highlighted the tensions between two nations, while also mentioning that playing sports with each other becomes extremely difficult in current circumstances.
"I won't be surprised at all if the Asian Cricket Council gets disbanded with what's been happening. I mean if you've got two countries, you know, fighting against each other, then it's, it's a little bit difficult to, to play sport with each other," he concluded.