There has never been more noise off the field as India prepares for their crucial Asia Cup match against Pakistan on September 14. There have been strong calls for a boycott of the first India-Pakistan match since Operation Sindoor, with supporters accusing the BCCI of prioritising cricket over country. In fact, it is the Indian government’s call not to boycott playing against Pakistan in multinational events but in bilateral series.
Despite the government of India clearing participation, hashtags like #BoycottAsiaCup and #BoycottINDvsPAK have dominated social media, ticket sales have slowed, and the players themselves are now feeling the heat inside the dressing room. With the current Indian team being as young as it is and somewhat inexperienced, the huge roar of the outside is bound to creep in within the dressing room.
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The Indian board has maintained it is simply following the government policy of no bilateral cricket with Pakistan, but participation in multinational tournaments remains non-negotiable. Still, many fans view the September 14 game in Dubai as a betrayal, especially after Pakistani players mocked India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Now, according to a Times of India report, the storm of boycott has made its way into the Indian camp. Players reportedly held a lengthy conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir and the support staff on Saturday, with emotions running high. While Gambhir urged the squad to remain professional and treat the fixture like any other, questions about playing against a nation still fresh in their wounds have been difficult to shake off.
The tension has been palpable, as neither head coach Gambhir nor captain Suryakumar Yadav, nor any player, addressed the pre-match press conference. Instead, it was assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the weight of public sentiment when asked if players would carry the emotions of a wounded nation into the contest.
“Yes, I think they will,” he said. The Dutchman revealed that the squad went into a huddle on Saturday to address the matter directly. “I understand the position and the sentiment. But we are following the direction of what the BCCI and the Indian government have decided is right for the country at the moment.”
Reports have suggested that BCCI will ‘invisibly boycott’ Pakistan at the Asia Cup. Usually, officials travel to watch high-octane matches like the India vs Pakistan game, but this time around, the board won’t do so.
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