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Former Indian cricket team captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has once again batted for the controversial India-Pakistan clash to go ahead as per schedule in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. The mere confirmation of the clash between India and Pakistan in the tournament has sparked a massive outrage across the nation, with many calling the BCCI and the Indian government to boycott the clash.
Fans, several former cricketers and prominent politicians have criticised the BCCI for agreeing to play against Pakistan, just three months after the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam which saw 26 people lose their lives. India and Pakistan were involved in a brief military standoff after the Indian armed forces conducted Operation Sindoor, in response to the Pahalgam attack.
The diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan are at an all time low However, despite the recent tensions between the two countries, BCCI has given a go-ahead for the India-Pakistan clash at the Asia Cup 2025, infuriating fans and general public.
Ganguly, who recently said he had no problems with India playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, once again repeated his stance. The former BCCI president said the India vs Pakistan match should take place if the Indian government gives its nod of approval. However, he insisted that terrorism should stop from across the border.
"India-Pakistan cricket has always depended on government permission. If the government allows the game to be happen, it will happen. I have said earlier also that the terrorism should stop. As I said, if the government allows the match should go on," Sourav Ganguly told NDTV.
"It's Asia Cup, both the India and Pakistan team have been playing Asia Cup and World Cups. Bilaterals have not been happening for a while."
The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to get underway in the UAE on September 09, with India taking on Pakistan on September 14. However, the future of the high-profile contest remains uncertain amid continuous outrage over the BCCI's stance of playing with Pakistan.
Earlier, Ganguly had said that he wants the India-Pakistan match to go ahead as per schedule and that he has no problems with the Indian team playing Pakistan. The former India captain was slammed left, right and centre by many for his statement, with fans reminding him of the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
“I am okay. The sport must go on. At the same time Pahalgam should not happen, but the sport must go on. Terrorism must not happen; it needs to be stopped. India took a strong stance towards terrorism… Sport needs to be played,” Ganguly told ANI.
Several parliamentarians raised the issue regarding the scheduled India-Pakistan match in the Lok Sabha during the special discussion on Operation Sindoor on Saturday.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi grilled the government over agreeing to let the Indian team play Pakistan in the Asia Cup, months after the Pahalgam terror attack. Owaisi said how can India play cricket with Pakistan when all trade with the neighbouring nation has been suspended and the Indian air space has been closed for Pakistan's aircraft.
"When Pakistan's aircraft cannot come into our airspace, their boat cannot come into our water, trade has ended, how will you play a cricket match with Pakistan? When we are not giving water, we are stopping 80 per cent of Pakistan's water, saying that blood and water will not flow, you will play a cricket match," said Owaisi in Lok Sabha.
The AIMIM chief also questioned the government how would they convince the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack to watch the India-Pakistan match after they lost their loved ones a few months ago. He also made it clear that he won't be watching the game as his conscience wouldn't allow him to do so.
