The announcement of the India-Pakistan cricket match scheduled for September 14 in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 has sparked a major political controversy, coming just months after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The high-stakes encounter, often dubbed cricket's greatest rivalry, is slated for a Sunday viewing, but the timing has drawn sharp criticism from Opposition parties and sections of civil society.
The match is scheduled less than four months after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which at least 26 people were killed. The attack, carried out by terrorists linked to Pakistan, was followed by Indian military strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), leading to heightened border tensions. Pakistan's establishment and its intelligence agency, ISI, are widely accused of supporting terrorism to destabilise India.
The political row intensified due to the symbolic weight of the Asia Cup schedule release, which came on Kargil Vijay Diwas—the day commemorating India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War. So far, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has remained silent on the matter.
Opposition Criticism
Several Opposition leaders have condemned the decision to go ahead with the India-Pakistan match, citing the unresolved aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism. They have argued that India should not engage in any cricketing ties with Pakistan under current circumstances.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, criticised what she called putting “profit over the blood of Indian soldiers.” In a post on X, she wrote, "Dear BCCI, remember all of us Indians will protest any engagement with Pakistan on the cricket ground whichever country you move this to. Stop your profit over the blood of Indians and Armed Forces. On one hand India's CDS has said Operation Sindoor is ongoing and on the other hand you'll rush to earn your blood money."
Sukhdeo Bhagat, Congress MP from Lohardaga, Jharkhand, echoed similar concerns, emphasising that patriotism must come before sport. He stated, “Many people say that sports should be kept separate from politics or everything else, but patriotism and national sentiments of the entire country are hurt due to the acts of Pakistan. We should take further steps only after taking strong action against them.”
Sports Diplomacy Under Scrutiny
The debate over playing Pakistan gained further momentum after the cancellation of an India-Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends held in England. Prominent Indian former cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan had withdrawn from the match, citing the recent Pahalgam tragedy.
Adding his voice to the issue, former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin, a Congress member, said, “My stand is that if you are not playing bilateral events, then you should not play international events either. But whatever the government and the board decide will happen.”
The Tournament Schedule
The Asia Cup 2025 will feature eight teams and run from September 9, with the India-Pakistan group-stage match set for September 14. Given both teams’ strong track records, they are expected to qualify for the Super Four stage, raising the possibility of at least two more encounters—possibly even a high-voltage final clash.
While fans eagerly await the showdown on the cricket field, the political climate suggests that this year’s India-Pakistan encounter will be about far more than just sport, as the match becomes a flashpoint in the larger debate over national security, diplomacy, and patriotism.
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