The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is defending its decision to allow the Indian cricket team to play against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, despite heightened tensions and calls for a boycott following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. The decision has sparked controversy, with many questioning the appropriateness of sporting ties given the strained relationship between the two nations.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained the decision, emphasizing that the Asia Cup is a multinational competition, akin to the Olympics or FIFA tournaments. According to Saikia, boycotting such an event would negatively impact India's future endeavors to host international tournaments. He highlighted the difficulty of making unilateral decisions in multilateral events, contrasting it with bilateral series, where India has refrained from playing Pakistan since 2012-13.
The Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 Indian tourists, has intensified public anger and fueled calls for severing all ties with Pakistan. India responded to the attack with "Operation Sindoor," targeting alleged terrorist bases. The families of the victims have also voiced their opposition to the match, with some urging a nationwide boycott. Social media platforms have been flooded with criticism of the BCCI's decision, reflecting the strong public sentiment against playing Pakistan.
Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has stated that participation in tournaments organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC) is a "compulsion" for member nations. Failure to participate would result in elimination or forfeiture of the match. Thakur also reiterated that India has made a decision to not participate in bilateral tournaments with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorist attacks on India.
Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the controversy, stating that the decision to play Pakistan was made by the government, and the BCCI and players are obligated to follow that directive. He emphasized that personal opinions are secondary to the government's decision.
The India-Pakistan match is scheduled for September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium.
