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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the government of India are currently facing a lot of criticism from fans for their decision to allow the Suryakumar Yadav-led side to feature against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. Amid all the criticism, former Indian sports minister and current BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur issued a clarification that such contests are unavoidable when it comes to tournaments conducted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Asian Giants India and Pakistan last faced each other in a bilateral series in 2012/13. Since then, both teams have faced each other in global or continental competitions like the Asia Cup or the ODI and T20 World Cups.
The upcoming clash is facing a lot of backlash because there were growing demands from fans to not have any sporting relations with Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Thakur, addressing the issue in a video shared by ANI, explained why India continues to face Pakistan in multinational events.
"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 eliminated from the tournament, they will have to forfeit the match and the other team will get the points... But India doesn't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan. We have made this decision for years that India won't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorist attacks on India" said Anurag Thakur.
Team India will face Pakistan for their second clash of the Asia Cup 2025. The Men in Blue have already defeated the UAE in their tournament opener at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai by nine wickets in a one-sided clash. The Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 14 at the same venue.
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