With India and Pakistan scheduled to lock horns in the Asia Cup on September 14, there have been widespread criticism of that decision from all corners of the country due to the recent tensions between the two countries following the events of the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The tensions spilled onto the cricket field as well when the India Champions refused to play the Pakistan Champions team in the World Championship of Legends last week.
However, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly said on Sunday that while terrorism needs to be stopped, sports must go on.
“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,” Ganguly said as per a video by ANI.
#WATCH | Kolkata: On India-Pakistan placed in the same group in the Asia Cup, former Indian cricketer Saurav Ganguly says, “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.… pic.twitter.com/Qrs17KOKrN
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will host the Asia Cup, to be played in T20 format, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. The marquee match between India and Pakistan — both placed in Group A — will be played on September 14. If the two sides advance to the Super 4s and win the rest of their matches, their next meeting will be in the final.
This will be the first match between India and Pakistan after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed. Subsequently, Operation Sindoor was conducted by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan against terror emanating from that country.
The two sides were slated to meet in the Women’s Asia Cup for emerging players last month. However, the BCCI withdrew from the tournament in the aftermath of the terror attacks and the consequent escalation in hostilities.
The Indian cricket board even threatened the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to shift their annual meeting from Dhaka to another country. It is learnt that they warned other countries not to attend the meeting in the Bangladeshi capital. However, with the BCCI officials and Sri Lanka Cricket chiefs attending the meeting through video conferencing earlier this week, the schedule for the September event was finalised.
