New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in deep water amid massive outrage across social media platforms over the India-Pakistan clash in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Amid heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan, many have lashed out at the BCCI for giving the nod to the Indian team to play against Pakistan in the tournament.
It has now emerged that the BCCI reportedly gave a green signal to playing against Pakistan during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting earlier this year and cannot pull out of the scheduled clash. BCCI also cannot withdraw from the Asia Cup, being the hosts and having given their commitment for the tournament, which is set to be played in the UAE this year.
The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to begin in the UAE on September 09, with India lined up to play against Pakistan in a marquee clash on September 14. However, the future of the match is uncertain due to continuous outrage among Indian fans and the general public, who are against the Indian team playing against Pakistan just three months after the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people.
As per a report in the news agency IANS, the match will go ahead as per schedule after the BCCI gave its commitment. A BCCI source revealed that the Indian team cannot withdraw from the Pakistan clash or the Asia Cup 2025, as it agreed to play the game during the ACC meeting. As it stands, the India-Pakistan match is set to go ahead as per schedule.
“The BCCI cannot withdraw from the tournament or the match now. The decision was agreed upon after the ACC meeting. Since India is the host nation, nothing can be changed at this stage. An official-level discussion took place, and the outcome was decided accordingly. The match will go ahead as scheduled,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by IANS.
India, Pakistan can meet thrice in Asia Cup 2025
India and Pakistan are part of the same group in the Asia Cup 2025 and can potentially meet three times in the tournament. India and Pakistan are in Group A alongside UAE and Oman. Meanwhile, Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Afghanistan. India will meet Pakistan once in the group stage on September 14.
The two teams will later clash in the Super 4 stage if they both qualify for the next stage. India and Pakistan can meet in the final if they both make it to the summit clash. India will head into the Asia Cup 2025 as the defending champions, having won the last edition of the tournament 2023 in Sri Lanka. India were scheduled to host the Asia Cup this year, but the tournament was shifted to UAE – a neutral venue.