On social media, it’s India vs Team India. A large section of the Indian fans is calling for a boycott of the India vs Pakistan match at the Asia Cup 2025. But as the government of India gave the green signal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the match on September 14 in Dubai will go ahead as planned. Team India will take on Pakistan, despite India not wanting them to. Cricket wins, India loses irrespective of the result of the match.
Ever since the Asia Cup 2025 returned to the track with BCCI getting permission from the Indian government, fans have been unhappy. While not many have spoken out against the government, fearing retaliation, BCCI has become the primary target. After all, BCCI is the official host of the Asia Cup, albeit in the UAE. Many social media channels covering sports have supported fans in boycotting the IND vs PAK match.
We asked the fans if there should be IND vs PAK match in ICC events.
Why are Indians calling for a boycott?
The IND vs PAK cricket matches are always high-voltage. When the two cricket-crazy nations collide, it is often to make a statement and claim the regional bragging rights. It has always been a contest between India’s batters and Pakistan’s fast bowlers. While the IND vs PAK head-to-head in bilateral matches is tilted towards the Men in Green, the Men in Blue have dominated them in multinational events, including the World Cup and Asia Cup. Fans have cherished such matches. Who can forget Virat Kohli’s knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 or Shaheen Afridi’s spell in the T20 World Cup 2021?
However, all the cricketing memories aside, it has more to do with how some of the Pakistani players reacted to India’s Operation Sindoor. Many Pakistani players, including Abrar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf. The two mocked the Indian army and India in general with derogatory social media posts. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi only fuelled the fire with anti-India comments. That is unacceptable for any proud nation and India is not different. Indian players will go against those very players who openly mocked their country in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
What did BCCI and GoI say?
The BCCI made it clear that it would follow the Government of India’s position. The BCCI in the past refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, forcing the ICC to hold the tournament in a hybrid model. India played Pakistan and other matches in the UAE. The Indian board also made it clear that there would be no bilateral cricket between the two nations.
“So far as the BCCI’s view is concerned, we have to follow whatever the central government formalises. Recently, our policy regarding India’s participation in any multinational or international tournament clearly states that there are no restrictions imposed by the central government on playing against countries not on friendly terms with India. So, India has to play all matches in any multinational tournament.
As the Asia Cup is a multinational tournament involving countries from the Asian continent, we have to participate. Similarly, in any ICC tournament, even if it involves a country not on good terms with India, we are required to play. As far as bilateral ties are concerned, we are not going to play against any hostile nation,” BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia told ANI.
Ahead of the India vs Pakistan match on Sep 14 in Asia Cup, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal once again clarified BCCI’s stance on the matter.
“I would like to wish Team India all the best. I think the government has clarified its position. We are not going to play Pakistan, but we are going to play them in ACC/ICC events. So we will follow what the government says,” Dhumal told ANI.
The Sports Ministry of India also finalised a policy on playing Pakistan.
Calls to boycott IND vs PAK grow louder
India will not only face Pakistan once on Sep 14, but there could be two more clashes, including one in Super 4 on Sep 21 and the Asia Cup final on Sep 28. Many fans have called it BCCI’s greed to capitalise on the popularity of the rivalry, ignoring the pleas of fans. The rest have slammed the Indian board for going ahead with the match.
India’s opposition political parties wrote to the Prime Minister and some tried to raise that issue in the parliament. However, both were turned down. The issue reached the Supreme Court as well. However, the Supreme Court turned down the plea. But that hasn’t stopped fans from calling for the boycott. #BoycottAsiaCup and #BoycottINDvsPAK have been trending on Twitter and other social media platforms. This has impacted the ticket sales of the IND vs PAK match, which are usually sold out in minutes. But now, many tickets are still available.
“Country… or Cricket with Enemy? Choice is Ours,” one of the fans wrote.
“If you are watching BCCI team’s matches, please spare a thought for those innocent Indians mu*dered in cold blood at Pahalgam and those soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the paki terr*rists for you to live in peace & watch these matches at your homes. Just a thought, please I am boycotting Asia Cup. Are you? Jai Hind,” another person wrote.
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