The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing heavy criticism after announcing India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025. Many fans are upset, especially in the wake of Operation Sindoor, and feel that India should cut all sporting ties with Pakistan. The decision to go ahead with the tournament has sparked a wave of backlash across social media and public platforms.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar opined that the players don’t have much of a say in this matter, as they are under contract with the BCCI. According to him, it's the Indian government that ultimately decides whether the team can participate or not. If the government gives the green signal, the players are expected to follow those instructions.
"It is the government that has to the instructions to the BCCI. The BCCI will follow what the government says, and the players will also follow what the BCCI says. I think it is going to be that kind of situation. So everything depends on what the government of India decides" Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Today
Earlier, Indian legends faced heavy criticism after India was supposed to face Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, and the clash was later called off. India even refused to play in the semifinal clash of the tournament. Gavaskar slammed cricketers' critics, saying that the players are taking instructions from the BCCI.
"Well, I mean, if the government has taken a call, I don't see how the players can be criticised or, you know, commented upon because the players at the end of the day are contracted to the BCCI. The BCCI will be taking instructions from the government of India. So it entirely depends on that. The players are helpless in this. The players would be you; they've been selected to play in the Asia Cup. And so they have to go out over there. And if the government says you have to play against, you have to play all the matches, then that is what the players will do" Gavaskar added.
Asia Cup is scheduled to start from September 9 and India will start their campaign on the next day against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 14 at the same venue.
India squad for Asia Cup: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh