High-Ranking BCCI Officials Absent from India-Pakistan Asia Cup Final

No official representatives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) attended the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai. This decision was reportedly made due to an unwillingness to engage with Mohsin Naqvi, chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and also head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Details of the Absence

BCCI officials had also notably skipped earlier group stage and Super 4 matches between the two nations. The final, set to be the first-ever Asia Cup showdown featuring both India and Pakistan, generated immense excitement with all tickets sold out, underscoring the significance of the skipped event.

New BCCI President Appointed Amidst Controversy

Among those absent from the final was the newly appointed BCCI President, Mithun Manhas. His appointment was officially confirmed at the Board`s Annual General Meeting (AGM) just hours before the highly anticipated match. Manhas, a former first-class cricketer, succeeded Roger Binny in the prestigious role.

At the same AGM, Rajeev Shukla and Devajit Saikia were re-elected as Vice-President and Secretary, respectively, solidifying the new leadership structure.

Manhas`s Ascent to Presidency

The BCCI president`s chair became vacant after Binny stepped down in August 2025, with Shukla serving as interim president until Manhas`s election. Manhas is only the third former cricketer, following in the footsteps of Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny, to assume the top executive position.

The 45-year-old Manhas built his career playing domestic cricket for Delhi before relocating to Jammu and Kashmir, where he also took on crucial coaching responsibilities.

Following his election, Manhas shared his vision, stating, “It`s an absolute honour to be the president of the world`s finest cricket board, and at the same time, it`s a huge responsibility. I assure you that I will be committed to doing it to the best of my abilities with dedication and passion.”

Further Key Appointments

The AGM also saw other significant leadership changes and confirmations:

• Jaydev Shah, President of the Saurashtra Cricket Association, was elected as an Apex Council member.
• Arun Dhumal successfully retained his pivotal position as IPL Governing Council chairman.
• Former India internationals R.P. Singh and Pragyan Ojha were added to the men`s selection committee, which is led by Ajit Agarkar, aiming to bolster the selection process.