The much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan is set for September 14 in the Asia Cup 2025. However, this match has stirred anger among people, with protests erupting and social media buzzing with discontent. Former Sports Minister and current BJP MP, Anurag Thakur, made it clear that matches organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC) cannot be postponed.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place in 2012/13. Since then, encounters between the two have been limited to global or continental tournaments like the Asia Cup, ODI World Cup, and T20 World Cup. This match comes at a time when India launched Operation Sindhur against terror groups in Pakistan following the April attack in Pahalgam, prompting many former cricketers and fans to call for a boycott.
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Anurag Thakur's Take on the India-Pakistan Match
In a video shared by news agency ANI, Thakur stated, 'It becomes mandatory for countries to play in ACC or ICC tournaments. Failure to do so results in being ousted from the tournament or forfeiting the game, giving the points to the other team. However, India doesn’t play bilateral series with Pakistan. We decided long ago not to play bilateral cricket until Pakistan stops terrorism.'
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh also shared his views on the matter. Speaking at an event, he said, 'India-Pakistan matches always make headlines, but after Operation Sindhur, everyone agreed not to play or trade with Pakistan. We were playing in the World Championship of Legends, yet we skipped the match against Pakistan.'
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Harbhajan further mentioned that personally, he opposes playing or trading with Pakistan, but respects the government’s policy when it comes to multinational tournaments. Despite the controversies, the India-Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup is on track. Both teams are entering the tournament with victories, making it crucial for securing a spot in the Super Four stage.
