NEW DELHI: The India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai has become a political battlefield even before the first ball is bowled, with opposition parties condemning the match while the government defending it as a sporting necessity. Shiv Sena (UBT) workers staged “sindoor” protests in Maharashtra and urged citizens to boycott the game, calling it an insult to soldiers and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether the match was “also being done under Trump’s pressure.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Shinde-faction defended the match pointing to Congress-era when “international cricket matches were played between India and Pakistan even when relations were tense.”Cricket fans, however, remain divided over the issue, as some believe that the match shouldn’t take place given that “such a big incident took place in our country.”
Why is Opposition against the match?
The Opposition is against India’s participation in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan primarily because they view it as a betrayal of national sentiment following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.For Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, the match is symbolic of what they call the government’s “business of patriotism.” Thackeray accused the BJP of prioritising money over martyrdom, questioning how the prime minister could once declare that “blood and water cannot flow together” but still allow cricket ties with Pakistan. The party staged ‘Sindoor’ protests in Mumbai, with its women workers sending vermilion to the PMO as a symbolic gesture, arguing that cricket with Pakistan is an insult to soldiers and terror victims. “Our Prime Minister said blood and water cannot flow together, then how can blood and cricket flow together. How can war and cricket be at the same time?. They have done business in patriotism. The business of patriotism is only for money. They are going to play the match tomorrow also because they want all the money they will get from that match,” he said.Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also questioned the match saying, “What is the need for the Prime Minister to organise a match with Pakistan? The whole country is saying that this match should not happen. Then why is this match being organised?””Is this also being done under Trump’s pressure? How much will you bow down to Trump?” he said.”Playing a match with Pakistan is a betrayal of the country. Every Indian is extremely angry about this,” he declared. Calling for an outright boycott of the match, Aaditya Thackeray said, “The match can be boycotted even today, even now. The @BCCI can still show India that it belongs to India, and not to greed of money. The BCCI can still prove that it isn’t anti- national. Do 2 points really matter to the best team in the world? Those playing today on the field, must realise that they are playing against a country from where terrorists came into ours, massacred innocent lives. Think of the families who lost their loved ones in Pahalgam.””Nothing can come beyond boycotting a country that harbours terrorists. What a shame to be knowing all of this and still going ahead with the game. Today, we miss a Union Government that would have strongly come down on such anti- national acts. Sadly, we see BJP having changed its ideology and definition of patriotism,” he added. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi echoed these concerns, attacking the BJP for allowing the fixture despite Pakistan’s role in the Pahalgam killings. He asked whether the monetary gains from the match, potentially worth thousands of crores, outweighed the value of 26 Indian lives lost. For the opposition, the issue is not just about sport, but about national dignity, security, and respect for the victims of terrorism, making their call for a boycott a political as well as moral stance.”My question to the chief minister of Assam, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and all of them is that you don’t have the power to refuse to play a cricket match against Pakistan, which asked for the religion of our 26 citizens in Pahalgam and shot them,” Owaisi said.
How has government defended the match?
The government has defended India’s participation in the Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan by drawing a clear line between cricket and conflict. Union minister Manohar Lal said the game and Operation Sindoor were “two different issues,” and argued that opposing the match was unfair to the players who had worked hard to reach this stage. He stressed that the decision to go ahead was taken “thoughtfully” and that cricket carried its own sentiment beyond politics.”Both issues are different. As far as the matter between India and Pakistan (the cricket match), Operation Sindoor, and other things are concerned, nobody will say that the match will happen just by comparing them. But as far as the game is concerned, the game has sentiment, and players also worked hard for it, so it is not fair to oppose it. That’s why whatever has been decided has been decided thoughtfully,” he said.Moreover, Eknath Shinde-led Sena and MP Naresh Mhaske targeted Congress saying, “UBT (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had no moral right to oppose the match. During the Congress era too, international cricket matches were played between India and Pakistan even when relations were tense.””Until terrorism stops, cordial relations cannot be built. Playing an Asia Cup match doesn’t mean a change in policy. The IPL doors are still closed to Pakistani players. In international competitions, such matches have always been played, including World Cup games,” he added.Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that a country of 140 crores was bound to have “differences of opinion over the cricket match.””The country has a population of 140 crore. In such a vast country, there are bound to be differences of opinion over the cricket match. Some people may feel that since relations between the two countries are strained, there should be no match. At the same time, others may support the game,” he said.
Fans divided over match
The fans remain divided over the match. While many see the game as a moment of national pride and sporting excitement, others believe holding the contest so soon after the Pahalgam terror attack is insensitive and should be avoided.In Mumbai, cricket follower Shubham Chavan told ANI, “Match should not take place. The match should not take place. But as a sportsman, it should. India vs Pakistan is a big match. The matches are thrilling. It goes till the last over. So, it will be entertaining. India will win.”Another cricket fan Asgar Ali from Ahmedabad expressed similar sentiments saying, “This match should not be played. Such a big incident took place in our country, but still we are playing a cricket match against them. According to me, we should boycott this completely.”Others countered that sport should be kept separate from politics and conflict. Fans like Praveen Kashyap in Delhi maintained that the rivalry is part of cricket’s appeal and should go ahead regardless of strained relations. “This is a match which everyone would want to watch…People have a special affinity for sports. Everybody wants to watch the India vs Pakistan match…A few people view sports just as sports,” he said. Go to Source
