The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently facing a lot of criticism after they agreed on India's participation in the Asia Cup 2025. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have also announced the schedule of the continental tournament. The showpiece event is scheduled to start on September 9, where Afghanistan will face Hong Kong in the tournament opener.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are placed in the same group despite growing demands from fans to not have any sporting relations with Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly reckons that the sport must go on while criticising the Pahalgham terror attack and terrorism.
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"I am okay. The sport must go on. At the same time Pahalgam should not happen, but the sport must go on. Terrorism must not happen; it needs to be stopped. India took a strong stance towards terrorism... Sport needs to be played," Sourav Ganguly told ANI.
Earlier, former Bengal wicketkeeper batter Shreevats Goswami suggested the BCCI forfeit the clash against Pakistan and let them qualify. He reckons that the only reason India is featuring in the tournament is because they want to help the other teams economically.
"My read on the Asia cup going forward is India to & must forfeit the game against Pakistan& let them qualify. We don’t need to win the Asia cup. The only reason India is participating cause it helps other nations economically or else I don’t see any reason. Ideally this is what should & must happen & if India decides to play against pak it will make the nation angry ! It should !" said Goswami on X.
India will start their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE on September 10. The high-voltage India vs Pakistan match will take place on September 15. The whole tournament will take place in the UAE, while BCCI will be the host, as BCCI and PCB signed a deal before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 that they won't travel to the neighbouring country to feature in cricket.