Former India Captain Welcomes India-Pakistan Playing In Asia Cup, But On One Condition

Since the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces on the terror outfits in Pakistan, India and Pakistan will meet each other for the first time on a cricket field in the Asia Cup 2025. The match will take place on September 14 in the United Arab Emirates.

Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to speak on the matter, the decision taken by the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) to give the hosting rights to India and the announcement of the full schedule more than confirms the hosting. 

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is probably the first person from the country to be okay with India playing Pakistan after the relationship between the two countries had its toughest period since 2008. 

Ganguly said that sports must be played, but on a condition that terrorism should be stopped, referring to the Pahalgam attack. 

“I am okay. The sport must go on. At the same time, Pahalgam should not happen, but the sport must go on. Terrorism must not happen; it needs to be stopped. India took a strong stance towards terrorism… Sport needs to be played,” Indian Express quoted Ganguly as saying as per a  video by news agency ANI.

India had earlier pulled out of the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup due to the prospect of facing Pakistan. The event was supposed to take place in Sri Lanka from June 2 onwards. It would thus be interesting to see how the Men’s Asia Cup pans out.