The upcoming India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 has once again stirred debate on whether the two nations should face each other amid ongoing tensions. While sections of the public and social media continue to question India’s participation, former Sports Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur has clarified that such contests are unavoidable when conducted under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC).
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012/13, and since then, their meetings have been restricted to global and continental tournaments such as the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup.
This latest encounter carries added weight as it follows Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory action against terror groups in Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack in April. The incident sparked fresh calls from former cricketers and fans to boycott cricketing ties with Pakistan.
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Addressing the issue in a video shared by ANI, Anurag Thakur explained India’s position. “When ACC or ICC organises multinational tournaments, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don’t, they must forfeit points and exit the competition. However, India has not played bilateral cricket with Pakistan for years and will not do so until Pakistan stops sponsoring terrorism,” he said.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: On the upcoming India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025, BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, “When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don’t do that, they will be… pic.twitter.com/ybP4n9nCaJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2025
Adding to the discussion, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh echoed the emotional divide in such matters. Speaking at a Society magazine event, Harbhajan said: “India-Pakistan matches always attract attention, but after Operation Sindoor, many felt there should be no cricket or business with Pakistan. In the World Championship of Legends, we chose not to play that match against them.”
He further stated that while he does not personally endorse sporting or trade ties with Pakistan, he respects the government’s stance in multilateral events.
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Despite the controversy, the highly anticipated Asia Cup clash is set to go ahead. Both India and Pakistan began the tournament with wins, raising the stakes for this showdown. Beyond the politics, cricket fans across the globe will be glued to their screens as the two arch-rivals battle for a Super Four berth.
