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Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer Kedar Jadhav has claimed that the Indian cricket team will not play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. India are scheduled to take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a group-stage match in the tournament in Dubai on September 14. However, many have called for the BCCI and the Indian government to boycott the game.
The emotions are still running high across the nation, months after the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 innocents lost their lives. While the bilateral ties between India and Pakistan are at an all-time low, many are surprised by the Indian government allowing the Indian cricket team to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025.
Jadhav insisted the Indian team should not play at all and made a bold claim that he is confident the match will not take place. The former CSK star, who is an active BJP politician, opened up on the controversial India-Pakistan clash during an event in Pune. He also recalled Operation Sindoor, while urging the BCCI not to play against Pakistan.
"I think the Indian team should not play at all. And in my opinion, India will not play. As far as India is concerned, I think that wherever India plays, it will always win, but this match should not be played at all, and they will not play. I can say this with confidence ... Operation Sindoor is a hit, it is successful..," Jadhav told ANI.
India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket against each other since 2013 due to strained political relations between the two nations. However, the arch-rivals continue to meet in major ICC competitions and the Asia Cup. BCCI and the Indian government have been facing massive flak over approving the fixture in the Asia Cup 2025, and it remains to be seen if the match will go ahead as planned.
Earlier, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh also said India should not play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, stating that blood and water cannot play together. Harbhajan also wondered why so much importance is being given to the Pakistan game, when it should be a no-brainer for the board and everyone involved to boycott the game.
"Khoon aur paani ek saath nahi beh sakte. Hum unko itni importance kyun dete hain? [Blood and water cannot play together. Why do we give them so much importance?]," Harbhajan told The Times of India.
India can potentially face Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup 2025. The two teams will meet in the group stage on September 14, before locking horns in the Super 4 stage of the tournament if they both qualify. India and Pakistan can also meet in the final of the tournament if both teams manage to reach the summit clash.
