The announcement that the 2025 Asia Cup will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, with arch-rivals India and Pakistan placed together in Group A, has sparked a massive backlash from Indian cricket fans. The high-voltage match between the two cricketing giants is scheduled for September 14, with potential subsequent encounters in the Super 4 and final stages. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as the event host, faces severe criticism and calls for boycott, especially given the geopolitical tensions following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, which claimed 26 innocent lives.
Fans troll BCCI in outrage and national sentiment
The outrage from Indian fans stems from the fact that the announcement came just months after the Pahalgam attack, perpetrated by a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist group. For many, the decision to allow India and Pakistan to face off in the tournament is highly insensitive, undermining the sacrifices of the victims and their families. Social media platforms have seen hashtags like #BoycottAsiaCup and direct condemnation of the BCCI for allegedly prioritizing financial gains over national dignity. Fans question how cricketing ties can resume so soon amid ongoing Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
Many argue that sport and politics cannot simply be separated in this context. While some international sports bodies have imposed restrictions on countries involved in conflicts (e.g., Russia has been banned or made to compete neutrally), Pakistan has not faced similar international sanctions outside India. This puts India in a tough position as withdrawal from the Asia Cup—or boycotting matches against Pakistan—in a multi-nation event hosted by BCCI is practically unfeasible.
As emotions run high, some fans feel the BCCI’s decision to proceed with the India-Pakistan fixtures is a betrayal. They see it as a “disgrace” and an insensitive move especially because the official announcement from Pakistan’s ACC president coincided with India’s Kargil Vijay Diwas, a day of national pride and remembrance for Indian soldiers.
Also READ: ACC unveils full schedule for Asia Cup 2025, India vs Pakistan clash set for September 14
Here’s how fans reacted:
We as a nation should complete boycott Asia Cup
I’m cricket fan..
Nation First over cricket..
SHAME ON YOU FOR FORGETTING PAHALGAM.सिनेमा कभी कभी समाज का आईना होता है.. जो इस वीडियो में बहुत सही तरीके से दिखाया गया है.. pic.twitter.com/yKjJP9oTJl
— HALF ENGINEER FEM (@half_engineer_f) July 27, 2025
@BCCI boycott Asia cup and never play with Pakistan and Bangladesh in any tournament. https://t.co/YDwA08o3f8
— Giridhar 🇮🇳 (@Giridhar02) July 27, 2025
#boycott India Pakistan match in Asia Cup
— shubham sharma (@shubpayel) July 27, 2025
So all of this drama is just to make Indians fool? Dear @BCCI if you are really proud of our Indian Army then Cancel that india-pakistan Match in Asia cup. Either cancel the match or Ready for mass boycott #AsiaCup2025 @BCCI @PMOIndia @rashtrapatibhvn #BycottAsiaCup pic.twitter.com/qaRje4njRl
— Sunil SB🇮🇳 (@sunil_sb68) July 27, 2025
WCL, IND vs PAK was boycotted.
Meanwhile, in the Asia Cup:
India vs Pakistan
Match 6 – September 14, 7:30 PMNo boycott here… India is set to play at least 3 matches against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/G4zRskWU8X
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) July 27, 2025
We are blocking the handles of Pakistani 🇵🇰 influencer and artists on social media even their news channel but allowing cricket
Seems profit from cricket is above everything
Russia 🇷🇺 was boycotted from Olympics , Euros and World Cup but we can’t boycott Pakistan 🇵🇰 in Asia Cup!! https://t.co/ocWz8PCWBw— Vक्रम (@vikramchickoo) July 27, 2025
Boycott India vs Pakistan at Asia Cup.
Zero tolerance for terrorististan. @narendramodi @BCCI @AmitShah— निखिल (@Niks_2180) July 27, 2025
,❌ Boycott Asia Cup ❌
❌ Boycott Asia Cup ❌
Let us support our brave soldiers who are fighting daily against Pakistan
Please QT if you think India should not play with Pakistan
Let it reach the dumb ears of @BCCI @JayShah @ShuklaRajiv @mansukhmandviya @surya_
— krathi_013 (@Keshav19753604) July 27, 2025
🇮🇳 Boycott Asia Cup – Nation First 🇮🇳
When our soldiers guard the borders with their lives, should we play cricket with a nation that sponsors terror?@BCCI must know: Nation > Profits
✋ Say NO to Asia Cup
🗣️ Raise your voice for our Armed Forces
🚫 #BoycottAsiaCupThis is…
— Baatein Stock Ki (@BaateinStockKi) July 27, 2025
देशभक्ति के नाम पर ‘ Selective Hypocrisy’ बंद हो
मुझ जैसा साधारण व्यक्ति पहलगाम के बाद ‘पैसे और फेम’ से उपर उठकर देशहित की भावनाओं का सम्मान करते हुए पाकिस्तान के Events और खिलाड़ियों का Podcast नहीं करता। देशहित में इतनी समझ BCCI में नहीं?
Absolute SHAME! pic.twitter.com/KJZt9rNKQ7
— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) July 26, 2025
The picture of sports beyond rivalry and politics
Despite the vocal backlash, historical context and pragmatic considerations offer some perspective. India and Pakistan have participated in multi-nation tournaments even amidst deep political tensions before. For example, during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, matches were held at neutral venues. Cricket legends from India and Pakistan played together in Rest of the World XI during conflicts between the countries, illustrating sports diplomacy and the broader role of cricket in building cultural bridges.
The Asia Cup also supports the ecosystem of Asian cricket beyond India and Pakistan. Associate members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) rely on the revenue generated to promote cricket development in their countries. The BCCI, crystallized as the “big brother” of Asian cricket, must weigh commercial, sporting, and diplomatic factors in decision-making. With the T20 World Cup co-hosted by India approaching in a few months—featuring Pakistan as a participant—the reality of sporting coexistence in the region cannot be ignored.
Ultimately, the BCCI and Indian government appear to be choosing a pragmatic path: not boycotting Pakistan during multi-team tournaments but managing the situation diplomatically. The decision reflects the complexities where sport, national sentiment, geopolitics, and commercial interests collide. While an understandable fissure exists in public opinion, this instance underscores the intricate dance in cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan in a charged geopolitical climate.
Also READ: Asia Cup 2025: BCCI opts for neutral venue, India-Pakistan clash on the cards
