Aishanya Dwivedi, the widow of Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, has strongly condemned the upcoming India vs Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup 2025, urging fans to boycott it. The attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, left 26 tourists dead and several more injured. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group backed by Pakistan's ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the assault.
Dwivedi has called out the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for agreeing to play against Pakistan, a nation she describes as a "terrorist nation". She questions the BCCI's sentiment towards the families of the victims and accuses them of ignoring the sacrifices made. "BCCI should not have accepted a match between India and Pakistan," she stated. "I think BCCI is not sentimental towards those 26 families".
She further criticized the silence of Indian cricketers, questioning their nationalism. "What are our cricketers doing? Cricketers are said to be nationalists...Except for 1-2 cricket players, nobody stepped forward to say that we should boycott the match against Pakistan," she lamented. Dwivedi argued that cricketers should take a stand for their country and not be compelled to play.
Dwivedi also raised concerns about the revenue generated from the match, suggesting it could be used to fund terrorism. "What will the revenue from the match be used for? Pakistan will use this just for terrorism. That is a terrorist nation. You will provide them with revenue and prepare them to attack us once again. I cannot understand this," she added.
In a powerful appeal, Dwivedi urged fans to boycott the match. "Don't switch on your TVs. Don't give them the numbers. Boycott this match," she said. She also questioned the sponsors and broadcasters, asking if their nationality was finished for those 26 families.
The Pahalgam terror attack was the deadliest attack since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. The attack has had significant repercussions, with Jammu and Kashmir suffering substantial tourism revenue losses. Tanvir Sadiq, MLA and chief spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, stated that the attack resulted in major cancellations and forced stakeholders to drop prices substantially.
Following the attack, India shut its border with Pakistan and imposed curbs on a special visa program. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the "heinous act" and pledged to bring the attackers to justice. The BCCI also paid tribute to the victims during an IPL match, observing a moment of silence and having players wear black armbands. The BCCI also took a conscious decision to conduct the game without fanfare.
