Bollywood superstar Suniel Shetty who is also an avid cricket fan came in support of Suryakumar Yadav-led India as they are facing a lot of criticism for featuring against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. He urged the fans not to blame players for featuring against Pakistan because they are abiding by rules and regulations. After all, there are a lot of other sports and a lot of athletes who are involved in them.
The Indian government and the BCCI are facing a lot of criticism for India's decision to feature against Pakistan because there were growing demands from fans to not have any sporting relations with Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Suniel Shetty believes that it's an individual call whether to watch the India vs Pakistan clash or boycott it.
"It's [ACC] a world sporting body. They [players] have to abide by those rules and regulations because there are a lot of other sports and a lot of athletes who are involved in them. As Indians, I think that is our personal call that we have to take, whether we want to see it, whether we don't want to see it, whether we want to go or not go and that's a call India has to take," stated Shetty, as quoted by The Economic Times.
He defended the cricketers, sharing that it is not in their hands when it comes to boycotting the match. He concluded by remarking that no single entity can be blamed for the scheduling of the match.
"You cannot blame cricketers for playing because they are sportsmen. They are expected to represent the country. I think that's a call we have to take. If I'm not going to see it, I'm not going to see it. It's for you to decide what each one of you wants to do. It's not in BCCI's hands. It's a world sporting body and you can't blame anybody," he added.
The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 14 at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. This will be Suryakumar Yadav-led side's second clash of the Asia Cup 2025, earlier the Men in Blue faced UAE in their tournament opener at the same venue.