Harbhajan Singh says India should skip Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan, calling it would disrespectful to fallen soldiers.
Published: Aug 16, 2025, 02:39 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 16, 2025, 02:39 PM (IST)
Ind vs Pak ( Asia Cup)
Asia Cup 2025 kicks off in the UAE on September 9 and promises to be a high-voltage contest, with India set to face Pakistan for the first time since the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The tragic incident, which claimed innocent lives, heightened tensions between the two nations. In its aftermath, India distanced itself from Pakistan, and the idea of facing them on the cricket field drew widespread criticism.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has now voiced his opinion, saying that playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup would disrespect the soldiers who lost their lives in the attack.
“They need to understand what is important and what is not. This is as simple as that. For me, the soldier who stands on the border, whose family often doesn’t get to see him, who sometimes sacrifices his life and never returns home – their sacrifice is so immense for all of us. Compared to that, this is a very small thing, that we can’t skip playing one cricket match. It’s a very small matter,” Harbhajan said on Times of India.
“Our government has the same stance, ‘Khoon aur paani ek saath nahi beh sakte.’ (blood and sweat cannot co-exist). It cannot be the case that there’s fighting on the border, tensions between the two nations, and we go to play cricket. Until these big issues are resolved, cricket is a very small matter. The nation always comes first,” he added.
Nothing is bigger than the nation. The players should always keep the country first, says Harbhajan.
“Whatever our identity is, it’s because of this country. Whether you are a player, an actor, or anyone else, no one is bigger than the nation. The country comes first, and the duties we owe to it must be fulfilled,” said Harbhajan.
“Cricket match na khelna bahut maamuli si cheez hai desh ke saamne (Not playing a cricket match is nothing compared to the importance of the nation),” he added.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash in the Asia Cup 2025 on September 14 in the UAE, with the tournament final set for September 28.