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The schedule of the 2025 Asia Cup was recently announced and to everyone's shock, India and Pakistan were placed in the same group. The arch-rivals are now set to face each other on in a T20I match on September 14. Former cricketers and fans have criticized India for playing the match against Pakistan after the terrorist atack in Pahalgam, Kashmir earlier this year in April which saw 26 civilians lose their lives.
Following the incident, there were speculations that India will pull out from the Asia Cup which put the tournament's future in danger. However, following the recent meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dhaka on July 24, the tournament was given the green light and its schedule got announced soon after. The competition is set to commence from September 9 and will go on till September 28.
Legendary India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that the match will go on as planned if the government gives the permission to the Indian team to play against Pakistan. The arch-rivals can potentially clash against each other on three occasions in the tournament as after the group stage match, the two can play in the Super 4 stage and the final as well.
"India-Pakistan cricket has always depended on government permission. If the government allows the game to be happen, it will happen. I have said earlier also that the terrorism should stop. As I said, if the government allows the match should go on," Ganguly told NDTV.
"It's Asia Cup, both the India and Pakistan team have been playing Asia Cup and World Cups. Bilaterals have not been happening for a while," he added.
Ganguly was left impressed with India's batting at Old Trafford
Ganguly also showered praise on the Indian team for their hard-fought draw against England in Manchester Test. He was particularly impressed with the performances of the Indian batters in the ongoing series and stated that the way that KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar played was 'remarkable'.
"I thought the India team was very good in Manchester. The way Rahul, Gill, Jadeja, Washington played was remarkable. A week ago they had to chase 193 at Lord's. The quality of batsmanship they have showed in the series for everyone there will be thinking it was their test match to be won. India's batting being in superb form in the series. It's so good to see Rahul, Gill, Pant, Jadeja, Washington Sundar take the game up to a new level," Ganguly stated.
Meanwhile, the fifth and final Test of the series between England and India is set to commen ce from July 31 at The Oval. With the hosts leading by 2-1, they head into the fifth Test as the favourites to lift the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, though India may have lost all their chances of triumphing the series with the draw at Old Trafford, they still can manage to level it up with a victory in London. It remains to be seen which side will come out on top in the much-anticipated fifth Test.
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