Last Updated on 7 months ago by Charbel Coorey
India-Pakistan matches are typically source of high anticipation, but the calls for a boycott have been loud ahead of their 2025 Asia Cup clash. The two nations will meet on September 14, but talk of whether this match should be going ahead at all has dominated the conversation in the lead up.
On April 22, political tensions between India and Pakistan were amplified following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent people. The attack, comdembed by by many countries around the world, led to closed borders, military conflict, and restricted trade in the following weeks.
Aishanya Dwivedi, wife of Pahalgam attack victim Shubham Dwivedi, has criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for going ahead with this match. She has also urged fans not to watch and questioned the priorities of the Indian players.
“I cannot understand this. I urge people to boycott this. Do not go to watch this and do not switch on your TV for this,” Dwivedi told ANI, as quoted by News18.
“BCCI should not have accepted a match between India and Pakistan…I think BCCI is not sentimental towards those 26 families and the martyrs of the Operation Sindoor.”
“What are our cricketers doing? It is said that cricketers are nationalists. It is viewed as our national game. Except for 1-2 cricket players, nobody stepped forward to say that we should boycott the match against Pakistan. BCCI cannot make them play at gu
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also critical of the match going ahead.
“What is the need for the Prime Minister to organise a match with Pakistan? The whole country is saying that this match should not happen. Then why is this match being organised?,” he said, as quoted by Times of India.
“Playing a match with Pakistan is a betrayal of the country. Every Indian is extremely angry about this,” Kejriwal continued.
Calls to boycott India Pakistan match grow in lead up to Asia Cup match
Many fans on social media have expressed their view on the match. Other large accounts have announced they will boycott, while other prominent accounts, including Mufaddal Vohra, list other matches happening on Sunday 14 September without mentioning India vs Pakistan.
In the context of the Asia Cup, the winner of this clash will progress to the Super Four after India and Pakistan registered comfortable wins against UAE and Oman respectively.
