Asia Cup 2025: On Saturday, the Asian Cricket Council chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, announced that Asia Cup 2025 will be played in the UAE between September 9 to 28. Since then, there has been a huge outrage from Indian cricket fans on social media. The backlash stems from the fact that India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group and may face each other thrice, months after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people.
People have been tagging BCCI and urging the cricket board to reconsider its decision. Some have gone as far as warning that if India plays against Pakistan, they will “boycott” the game in protest. They are upset with the fact that the cricket board has kept aside geopolitical tensions between the two neighbouring countries and agreed to play the tournament.
‘Dear BCCI, if you’re really…’
“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 be ready for mass boycott,” wrote one angry social media user.
Another added, “Can we, as a nation, come together & boycott the India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup?”
“Don’t just outrage on social media. Boycott the India-Pakistan Asia Cup game. Don’t watch it. Don’t follow the score. Don’t glorify it. Put your money where your mouth is,” said a third social media user.
‘Pathetic decision to play Asia Cup with Pak’
Yet another X user said, “…After what transpired in April-May, pathetic decision to play Asia Cup with Pakistan. Personally, I will #BoycottAsiaCup. This is the most anti-national move from the ‘self-proclaimed’ nationalist party of India.”
“As a proud Indian and die-hard cricket fan, I strongly believe we should boycott Pakistan in the Asia Cup. How can we play cricket with a nation that shows zero respect?” asked yet another cricket fan.
One Internet user tagged BCCI as said, “BCCI announced the Asia Cup schedule on the day of Kargil Vijay Diwas. India will play Pakistan on Sunday, September 14, in a group-stage fixture of the men’s Asia Cup. This is an indirect way of funding PCB, and they will use it against us. How come BCCI even thought of this?”
Someone even suggested that India should not play the Asia Cup; instead, they can play a tri-series with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
Asia Cup 2025
The 2025 Men’s Asia Cup will follow the T20I format and see the participation of eight teams – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Hong Kong. The teams are divided into two groups — Group A consists of India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
According to reports, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to clash on September 14 in the group stage. If both teams advance to the Super Four, they are scheduled to meet again on September 21. Should they make it to the final, fans could witness a third match between the two sides.