Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed strong support for the scheduled India-Pakistan match in the 2025 Asia Cup, despite rising political tensions. Ganguly emphasized that while terrorism must be condemned, sports should continue without disruption.
His comments came in light of the recent militant attack in Pahalgam, which has sparked calls for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reconsider playing against Pakistan.
The Asia Cup 2025, organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), is set to feature a high-profile India-Pakistan clash on September 14 in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament’s full schedule was revealed by the ACC last week, with India and Pakistan’s match among the most anticipated fixtures of the competition.
Sourav Ganguly, who is widely respected for his leadership and cricketing expertise, remarked, “What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can’t let that stop the game.
Terrorism must end. It’s in the past now. Sport must go on.” His statement underscores his belief that the spirit of sports should not be hindered by recent tragedies.
Amid growing calls from Indian media outlets for a boycott of the match, the BCCI has not made any official statement to support such a move.
Sources close to the board have revealed that the BCCI had already approved the tournament schedule during a recent ACC meeting in Dhaka. With India as the host nation, the BCCI has reportedly ruled out withdrawing from the fixture.
“The BCCI cannot withdraw from the tournament or the match now. The decision was agreed upon after the ACC meeting. Since India is the host nation, nothing can be changed at this stage,” a senior official said.
The India-Pakistan clash is expected to be one of the most-watched sporting events in 2025, drawing millions of viewers worldwide. Despite the politically charged atmosphere, cricketing authorities remain committed to ensuring the match proceeds as scheduled.
The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin on September 9, with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in the opening match. The tournament, which features eight teams, will follow the T20 format.
It also serves as a warm-up for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will start their Asia Cup campaign on September 12 against Oman, followed by a match against the UAE on September 17.
In other news read more about Asia Cup 2025: India Gets Permission to Face Pakistan
