 "India and Pakistan will likely play twice in Asia Cup 2025 with a possibility of a third match. Image: AFP")
India and Pakistan will play each other in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 14, at Dubai International Stadium. This will be the first time the two sides meet since the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir in April, where 26 tourists lost their lives. India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the attack and destroyed terror camps in Pakistan’s territory.
Both countries went to a full war after India carried out the operation inside Pakistan, but it stopped when both sides agreed to a ceasefire. This further increased political tension between the two countries, and now many Indian fans are calling for a boycott of the match. They say India should not play against Pakistan, and some have even decided not to watch the game.
The boycott talk has also influenced cricket franchises on both sides. On September 11, Indian Premier League team Punjab Kings shared a graphic of the India vs Pakistan match but left the Pakistan side blank, without showing their name or logo. A day later, Pakistan Super League side Karachi Kings did something similar. They showed the Pakistan captain’s photo but left a black silhouette where India captain Suryakumar Yadav should have been.
Netizens slam both sides
This is being seen as an indirect response from the PSL team to the Punjab Kings after their cryptic post on the India vs Pakistan clash. However, many believe that in reality, neither side will actually boycott the game and fans will still watch it, even if they pretend otherwise on social media, including these IPL and PSL teams.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, it has emerged that senior officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are likely to distance themselves from the clash to avoid being seen on TV amid boycott calls. The BCCI is facing backlash for allowing India to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup despite the recent tensions. But the BCCI has cited the Indian government’s policy to defend its stance on the game.
Originally, the Asia Cup was supposed to happen in India, but due to political issues, the tournament was moved to the UAE. Both teams started the event with easy wins as India beat UAE by 9 wickets, and Pakistan thrashed Oman by 93 runs.