BCCI to Lose $160 Million if India Do Not Play Pakistan? Know Full Story

The debate over whether India should play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup is heating up and has divided opinion across the country. Some people say the match should happen. They believe the rivalry brings huge money to cricket. No other game in the sport attracts so much attention or revenue. They argue that India is like the “big brother” of Asian cricket. By playing Pakistan, India helps other cricket nations earn more money.
Others strongly disagree. They say India should not play a country it was at war with just months ago. For them, political tensions make cricket matches impossible. They believe there is no reason to schedule such games while relations remain tense. Even with these differences, many fans agree on one thing: that the India-Pakistan match is cricket’s most-awaited contest. It is one of the most heated rivalries in the sport.

Will India Play Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025?

For the India-Pakistan rivalry to match that level, the cricket itself needs to improve. Right now, India has been far stronger on the field. There are two main reasons why will India play Pakistan in the Asia Cup. First, the tournament brings big money for all Asian cricket boards through media rights. Second, it could build goodwill before the T20 World Cup 2026, which India will host.
The numbers are big. Media rights for three tournaments are worth around Rs 1,400 crore. Ground rights add another Rs 290 crore. This means each cricket board in the region can earn at least Rs 290-332 crore over six years. Without India’s presence, such earnings are impossible. In T20 World Cups, the money is even bigger. The revenues from those tournaments are several times higher than the Asia Cup.

India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025: Rivalry Overview

India and Pakistan last played a Test match 18 years ago. In the last 15 years, they have played 17 One Day Internationals (ODIs). India has won 12 of those. Pakistan has won only 4. One match ended with no result. In T20 cricket, the story is similar. In the past 13 T20 internationals, India has won 10. Pakistan has won just 3.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) promoted the India-Pakistan game as the top clash in last year’s T20 World Cup in the USA since they were two of the best teams in world cricket. Pakistan, however, lost not just to India but were also defeated by the USA, a much smaller cricketing nation, in the first round.
Pakistan’s struggles have continued. On Tuesday, the West Indies crushed Pakistan in Tarouba. They bowled Pakistan out for only 92 runs in the third ODI. Apart from beating Bangladesh at home and away earlier this year, Pakistan’s ODI record in the last two years has been poor. Still, the hype around India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 is huge. In the ACC tournament, the two teams could meet up to three times. They could face each other in the league stage, the Super Four, and even the final.

From a money point of view, other rivalries are now doing better. India vs England and India vs Australia have grown massively in recent years. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a five-Test series between India and England, recorded record viewership on digital platforms. The 2017 Border-Gavaskar series in India and the 2024 edition in Australia became the most profitable bilateral cricket events in history.