Opposition parties, such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT), protested against the India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “The government should clarify whether Pakistan is our enemy or not; our jawans sacrifice their lives for the nation while the government permits cricket with Pakistan.”

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AAP workers led by party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj burnt an effigy of Pakistani cricketers as they held a protest against the India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025.

“Pakistani cricketers mocked our sisters when their ‘Sindoor’ was wiped off after Pahalgam terrorist attack. When their husbands were brutally murdered, these players shamelessly posted on social media that Asim Munir is putting ‘Sindoor’ on our sisters’ heads… And, now we are sending a team to play cricket with Pakistan. Have we gone mad for money?” said Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj

Aishanya Dwivedi, the widow of a man killed in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, has strongly condemned the upcoming India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match. She accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of disregarding the sacrifices of the 26 people who lost their lives in the attack and called for a nationwide boycott of the match.

Dwivedi criticised the BCCI for agreeing to the upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match, calling it “insensitive” towards the families of the 26 Pahalgam attack victims. Speaking to ANI, she said, “What are our cricketers doing? Cricket is seen as our national game, and players are expected to stand for the nation. Except for one or two, none have supported calls to boycott the match. The BCCI cannot force them to play; they should have taken a stand.”

She also questioned the role of sponsors and broadcasters, asking, “Has their concern for the 26 families ended? The revenue from this match will go to Pakistan, a terrorist nation, which will use it to fuel terrorism. By allowing this game, we are giving them resources to harm us again.” Dwivedi urged fans to register their protest by switching off their televisions and boycotting the broadcast.

The Maharashtra Congress echoed this sentiment, calling the match an insult to the Pahalgam victims’ families and to the soldiers who laid down their lives. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP alleged that the government’s decision to allow the game exposed its “double standards.”

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday declined to urgently hear a petition seeking an interim stay on the India-Pakistan clash scheduled for September 14, 2025, in Dubai.