DUBAI – International Cricket Council (ICC) members have expressed hope for a “ceasefire” between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid ongoing tensions that have overshadowed the recent regional tournaments.
The sources said that ICC meetings started in Dubai this week, with the first day featuring a session of the Chief Executives’ Committee. While the official agenda did not include the Pakistan-India dispute, insiders said the issue is likely to surface informally during Friday’s ICC Board meeting on the sidelines.
Tensions between the two boards have mirrored strained relations between their respective governments, with the rivalry intensifying during the recent Asia Cup held in the UAE. The controversy reportedly began when Indian players, allegedly following BCCI instructions, avoided shaking hands with Pakistani cricketers.
The situation escalated further when the ICC fined and sanctioned players from both sides — including Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, and India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah — for making politically charged gestures and comments during matches.
Another flashpoint arose during the Asia Cup trophy ceremony, when Indian players declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi after winning the final. The trophy was reportedly returned to the ACC headquarters in Dubai following the standoff.
Mohsin Naqvi maintained that, as ACC President, only he was authorized to present the trophy. Later reports indicated that the ACC offered to hold a special ceremony in Dubai to hand over the trophy, but India declined the proposal.
Cricinfo reported that the ICC board members acknowledged the importance of restoring healthy relations between the two boards, emphasizing that their rivalry has a major commercial impact on world cricket.
Some members remain hopeful that the upcoming meetings could pave the way for easing tensions and rebuilding sports diplomacy in South Asia.
