There has been a lot of outrage ever since it was announced that India will face-off against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025. Many cannot digest that the arch-rivals will be clashing against each other despite relations between the two countries deteriorating to an all-time low. There is still a lot of anger among people over the Pahalgam terrorist attack which took place earlier this year in April and saw 26 innocent people lose their lives. Following the terrorist attack, India ended up launching Operation Sindoor as a way of retaliation.
Even former India cricketers like Manoj Tiwary have expressed their disappointment over the Asia Cup clash going ahead as planned. However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has now confirmed that India will have to play all their matches in the Asia Cup as the central government have imposed no restrictions on them from doing so. This comes after the central governement had recently announced that Indian athletes will be allowed to compete qagainst Pakistan athletes in multinational tournaments, but not in bilateral competitions.
Saikia's take on the matter
“So far as the BCCI's view is concerned, we have to follow whatever the central government formalises. Recently, our policy—regarding India's participation in any multinational or international tournament—clearly states that there are no restrictions imposed by the central government on playing against countries not on friendly terms with India. So, India has to play all matches in any multinational tournament,” Saikia told ANI.
“As the Asia Cup is a multinational tournament involving countries from the Asian continent, we have to participate. Similarly, in any ICC tournament, even if it involves a country not on good terms with India, we are required to play. As far as bilateral ties are concerned, we are not going to play against any hostile nation,” he added.
Saikia further stated that the BCCI will continue following the policies formed by the government. He also remarked that the BCCI is happy to follow the policy as it not only takes cricket into consideration, but other sports as well.
"So we are following the policy framed by the government of India, the Youth and Sports Development Department. So, the policy we are following we are totally in alignment with the policy framed by the central government. And for that, BCCI will have to do it. And we are very happy to follow the policy. And that policy is very nicely done, taking into consideration not only cricket, but also other games," Saikia stated.
"If you think that if India boycotts any of the multinational tournaments hosted by the Asian Cricket Council or the ICC, or if you take any other sports, suppose a FIFA tournament or an AFC tournament or any other, suppose, athletic tournament involving multinational teams, and India is not playing with a particular country, then there may be sanctions against the Indian Federation," he further added.
Meanwhile, India will begin their Asia Cup campaign with the clash against UAE on September 10 before locking horns against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14. Their group stage will come to a conclusion with the match against Oman on Seotember 19.