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New Delhi: India and Pakistan are set to clash for the first time since Operation Sindoor in the Asia Cup 2025 at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, September 14. The Men in Blue won their opening game by nine wickets against the UAE, while Pakistan will start their tournament campaign against Oman on Friday, September 12.
India and Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside the UAE and Oman, while Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong are in Group B. If both teams qualify, then they will meet again in the Super Four stage of the tournament on September 21, a potential second match between the arch-rivals.
India launched Operation Sindoor after 26 tourists were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the broadcaster Sony Sports are facing a lot of criticism from the fans as the match approaches.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh also talked about the much-anticipated clash and said that the India vs Pakistan match always comes into the limelight, but after the recent Operation Sindoor, there should be no cricket and business.
The Indian Government formulated a policy under which the nation would not play any bilateral matches against Pakistan, but would compete against its neighbours in multilateral tournaments.
"We were playing the (World Championship of) Legends, we did not play that match (against Pakistan)," Harbhajan told the media during a Society magazine event as quoted by PTI.
The former spinner further added that he respects the Indian government's stance on the matter, but individually does not support cricket and trade between the two countries until the relations improve.
"Everyone has their own way of thinking and understanding, but I feel till the time relations between the two countries do not improve, cricket and business should not be there as well. But then, that is my thought. If the government says the match can happen, it should happen, but the relations between the two countries should be better," he added.
Harbhajan praised Team India for quickly recovering from the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and said that our cricket is at a different level, and the team is completely ready to compete against big sides even without star cricketers.
